Introducing Revit Architecture 2008 [Paperback]

Eddy Krygiel (Author), Greg Demchak (Author), Tatjana Dzambazova (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 7, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0470126523 | ISBN-13: 978-0470126523

Revit Architecture is transforming how architectural models are designed and documented, and this is the perfect guide to quickly become productive with this industry-leading BIM solution. This practical reference and tutorial offers you a theoretical overview of BIM, explains the principles of Revit, and delves into all of Revit’s essential tools. The expert authors are architects whose years of experience with BIM technology have resulted in these pages of impressive examples, practical explanations, and in-depth and detailed tutorials.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Join the BIM Revolution

Revit Architecture is transforming how architectural models are designed and documented, and this is the perfect guide for quickly becoming productive with this industry-leading BIM solution. This practical reference and tutorial begins with a theoretical overview of BIM, explains the principles of Revit, and then delves into all of Revit's essential tools. You will first get acquainted with Revit's intuitive interface, and then through a series of challenging architectural exercises, you will learn how to model, document, present, and share your design ideas.

This concise introduction to Revit is based on real-world architectural scenarios. The expert authors are architects whose years of experience with BIM technology has resulted in these pages of impressive examples, practical explanations, and in-depth and detailed tutorials. It's the perfect resource for readers of all skill levels who need to quickly accomplish vital Revit tasks. Inside you'll learn about:

• BIM and its advantages over traditional drafting

• The basics of parametric modeling and the Revit philosophy

• How to start and develop a design and move it to construction documentation

• The secrets to creating inspiring presentations

• The best ways to exchange and share your design with others

Produce fully detailed working drawings

Automatically generate color-fill plans

Deliver compelling graphic presentations

Valuable companion CD

The CD-ROM contains sample families and all the tutorial files necessary to complete the exercises in the book, including before and after versions so you can compare results.

About the Author

Eddy Krygiel is an Autodesk Authorized Author and registered architect at BNIM Architects. He teaches Revit to architects and architectural students and has lectured around the country on the use of BIM in the construction industry.

Greg Demchak is an architect and product designer for Revit Architecture. He has been working on the development of Revit since 2000 and teaches Revit at the Boston Architectual College.

Tatjana Dzambazova is an architect, the product manager for Revit Architecture, and an internationally recognized technology speaker.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Sybex (May 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470126523
• ISBN-13: 978-0470126523
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #936,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disjointed, Incomplete, and Many Text Errors, CD files corrumpted, August 23, 2007

By 

Moses Drake (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introducing Revit Architecture 2008 (Paperback)

I started reading the first chapter, and I thought, "This book is great. Great introduction to BIM." I found one sentence error and was like, "It doesn't matter; it's just one error," until I read further and further on.

Tutorials are disjointed! The examples are often not described smoothly and capable of following along -- unless it is bumps and crashes you like. I find my self writing in the book, adding information needed to the steps and example to actually be complete. At first it was a couple time, then by chapter 4 & 5 it was getting ridiculous.

Examples? This is just for Chapter 4.
p94: step 1 states "Select the Wall" yet the book has not told us from what file name from the entire CD we use to select "that one there wall."
p104: step 3 states "Top" when Revit refers to it specifically as "Height"
p104: step 3 states Loc Line to "Centerline" when Revit clearly only has one selection as "Wall Centerline"
p116-7: describes to draw a roof that follows the wall outlined, and is not a rectangular roof. Then continuing on page 117, the roof is SUDDENLY RECTANGULAR.
p117: step 11 tells us to "Finish Sketch," YET we were already told to hit "Finish Sketch" in Step 8. It's like telling someone to finish a cup of water twice with only one glass of water.
p117: step 12 states to change to metal roof, yet the roof is already metal (Generic - 12")
p119: step 3 state, "When you're got a closed loop of lines. ... " Folks this is not even a sentence, much less correct English.
p125: missing image for fig.4.83
p131: step 9 does not show lock icons as stated
p139: does not illustrate or describe where to "finish the other bathroom.
p141: reference to file name on CD is incorrect
p143: step 5 states "finish the sketch to see the resulting 3D geometry" yet the referring figure 4.122 is a 2D plan view. To properly see the result of editing 3D geometry in a 2D sketch view, you need to see more than just a 2D view result.

In addition, I found a file corrupted on the CD, which is accompanied with the book. The book sometimes references the CD file correctly and other time you must find what file the book is talking about.

I'm sick of incompleteness. However, if your determined you can make your way through this book the book will help you -- but only if your really computer literate already.

This book I consider as a rough draft.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for beginers, October 12, 2007

By 

Marcis Luksevics (Latvia (East-Europe)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introducing Revit Architecture 2008 (Paperback)

I read this book A-Z and it helped a lot. Although i already have made one little revit project before reading this book, there were a lot of useful tips. I liked the way book tells about revit - everything's written from architects sight not techno-geek's.
Only four stars because there were too less information about revit families - thats very important even for beginers.

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book confuses me, August 23, 2007

By 

J. Dobbins (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introducing Revit Architecture 2008 (Paperback)

My experience using "Introducing Revit Architecture 2008" by Krygiel, Demchak, and Dzambazova is not positive. I consistently find that the images given in the book do not match the screens, menus, and dialog boxes I see in the Revit Product. It looks like the book was written with a previous release of Revit Architecture. While it possible to eventually find the items the book mentions, I found this book very frustrating to use as a means for learning the software. I waste too much time trying to find the items the book is describing because the book's graphics do not match the Revit screens.