Question

Just watched a documentary on the Guggenheim in Bilbao, they said it would have
been impossible to build without CAD, what do you think?

Answer 1

I remember reading about it- something about double curves (like on an eggshell) are what keep the building standing. Quite a hard feat to come up with plans on that scale manually IMO.

Answer 2

I wonder what CAD software they chose to model it in, very complex modeling done there!

Answer 3

CATIA, developed for the French aerospace industry from what I gather.
http://www.arcspace.com/gehry_new/catia/catia.html
Quite interesting indeed.

Answer 4

It's the only software that offered surface modeling on that level of complexity at the beginning of the 90's so their choice is understandable.

Answer 5

If they had to do it today what do you think they would have used?

Answer 6

I guess Revit or Alias from designer/engineer point of view. If I were only a architect trying to sell my idea it'd be 3ds max/revit.

Answer 7

Im sure that the modeling software that Gehry Technology uses now, essentially an off shoot of CATIA, would not have been developed if it could have been done any other way. The software is so complicated, firms that purchase the software also get a technician imbedded within their office to actually use the software.

Answer 8

That makes a lot of sense. Given me something to look into- thanks everyone