Teasers about a new architectural concept modeler from Autodesk are starting to appear on the web. Project Vasari appears to be a technology from Revit stripped down for initial conceptual modeling and site analysis.
Right now the most popular products among architects for early stage architectural concept analysis are SketchUp, Rhino, and Form-Z, not Revit or Autodesk or MicroStation. Autodesk would love to bring concept modeling back into the Revit workflow, and needs something simple to do this.
Blogs that keep a close eye on Revit say Project Vasari is headed to Autodesk Labs soon, which means it will be a free technology preview. Given Autodesk’s recent moves, it would not be at all surprising if Project Vasari appears on the iPad as well as the desktop.
Here’s the video released by Autodesk to YouTube:
Google search for “Vasari Revit”: http://www.google.com/search?q=Vasari+Revit&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1GGGL_en___US383
I don’t see anything new here. Revit has had a decent conceptual modeler for some time. Perhaps this Stripped down version may be used by personal that don’t have a Revit seat.
Besides this, conceptual modeling is not necessary for most buildings (except large projects and signature buildings).
Sketchup is a far better (if not the best) solution for quick concept modeling. The analysis functions can stay in Revit as they don’t have much place in the concept phase. This is typical Autodesk. Yet another product that 1% will use. If you want quick concept modeling done right…Sketchup. If you want another bloated product….Autodesk.
PRO: Sketch up fills a void that Revit has not pushed easy rapid concept models
without the heavy investment in BIM training
CON: Sketch up is not a BIM application.
CON: Revit has crude mass modeling utility not easy for novice conceptual modelers.
AUTODESK will need to adress the issue or loose market share to sketch up !