ArchiWall is an ArchiCAD Plug-in for Creating Free-form Walls. ArchiWall lets you add “overlaid structures” to regular ArchiCAD walls, allowing simple prismatic blocks to be transformed into multiform architectural elements.

With ArchiWall, users can add free-form accessory elements to normal ArchiCAD walls to create mouldings and other decorations, giving projects a more realistic appearance while maintaining the characteristic simplicity and speed of ArchiCAD.

Using ArchiWall is easy. Just select the wall you want to “connect” the object to, then choose one of the seven transformation types available from the Tool Palette. Each transformation type has an associated Settings window in which details such as the materials to be used for the object, the starting level and total height, the plan attributes and cross section elevation can be defined.

Since the object created is connected to the wall, it inherits the wall’s door and window openings. Once an ArchiWall element has been created, if the host wall’s window or door openings are modified or removed, such changes can be reflected in the ArchiWall element by selecting the element and clicking on the “Data Update” button in the ArchiWall Tool Palette. These updates can also be performed automatically by enabling the “Automatic Update” option on the element’s Settings window.

An element’s settings can be modified even after it has been positioned on the Floor Plan, either by selecting the appropriate button from the Tool Palette or by selecting the element to open its Settings window. For the transformation types that require the definition of profiles or paths, the “Explosion” button can be selected from the ArchiWall Tool Palette to make a copy of the ArchiWall elements after their creation. This allows the user to modify the geometry of the elements and to use the same profiles and paths for other walls.

Once modifications have been made to the geometry of the exploded elements, these objects can be regenerated by clicking on the “Update Geometry” button. ArchiWall objects are connected to the host wall, but are not dependent on it. This means that the host wall can be deleted after the desired element has been
created, making it possible to view only the outline of the object when creating furnishings or decorative elements.

ArchiWall also makes it possible to export the elements created to other file formats and enables documents to be exchanged among co-workers without the risk of providing an incomplete image. Just remember to supply other users with the ArchiWall library or save the project in Archive format. Elements created with ArchiWall maintain all of the geometric characteristics of the walls from which they originate, including the cuts made with roofs and door and window openings.

ArchiWall objects can also be edited using ArchiCAD, though with limited functionality.