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Ah well I guess that is still well less than Catia costs.

DP was definitely never easy to learn and even harder to teach but once into it the power of the program was kind of captivating. It was worth learning because it gave me a good basis in parametrics/parametric thinking and has made subsequent programs a lot easier to get the hang of.

I…[Read more]

Digital Project is VERY expensive … the last time I looked it was around $10K a pop, and is one of the most difficult/frustrating programs I have worked with. I don’t see landscape architects using DP unless a client demands it … or unless you are a sub on a big project to Frank Gehry!

I am a big fan of translator programs … there are some…[Read more]

Agreed on revit and archicad. And on that front Digital Projects, though the expense can be high. After many, many hours invested in DP I despair to find a firm using it. Maybe at some point in the future.

Pretty much all my modeling is done in Rhino and translated to Max or Maya. I never really liked modeling in Max but it is getting more…[Read more]

yes, as of 3 weeks ago.

Yes

We may want to add Revit and ArchiCad to that list. Not enough LA firms are using BIM software, but there are reasons for moving that way.

Personally, I prefer SketchUp and 3ds Max.

I think the most important thing is how to move 3D data from one program to another. I have an article in the LAM august issue that seeks to address that issue. Hope…[Read more]

it depends on what you are trying to accomplish… I think for most simple models sketchup is the new industry pick. For high end complex modeling Rhino and Max seem to be the standard.

I agree.

The NU projects here in CO may be unaffordable for a great number of people, but they’re also typically built out and occupied relatively quickly. I would think this to be an indicator of demand, but opponents say otherwise.

I’ve heard time and again that NU/mixed density neighborhoods are more expensive to build both architecturally…[Read more]

I am working on a new urban residential project which has a private parking area below grade, but open air and ventilated. I would like to partially satisfy the Towns recreational square footage requirement by overlaying on the drive loop a running track for residents. I anticipate putting a running surface of some type over the concrete. Can…[Read more]

Jason,
After listening to the podcast of the interview, I’m not sure Rybcynski is really arguing against new urbanism or smart growth. He doesn’t even mention those words. Even in the article, he seems to be objecting more to the scale of government involvement than the design ideas behind smart growth. Maybe he attacks those ideas in some other…[Read more]

Agreed. The simplest solution is almost always the best solution. That’s part of my design philosophy.

What about Occam’s Razor?

Just to reiterate my point that I think I miscommunicated:

I don’t believe in a ‘catch-all’ formula for planning communties, be it specific intersection spacing, block sizes, front porches, or white shutters and picket fences. I believe in good design, as generic and unspecific as that may be. The term ‘smart’ in this case to me denotes or is…[Read more]