Revit for Beginners

Set up a new Revit project using the architectural template and learn why project templates matter for consistency across office projects. Adam introduces the case study house (a live project from his practice) and walks through the interface, toolbars, and elevation marker spacing. You'll configure units and wall types, preparing a template you can reuse on future projects.

Model exterior walls using the basic wall tool with finish face exterior positioning for accurate dimensions. Create levels for ground (00) and first floor (01) at correct elevations, then draw the ground floor perimeter and garage using Create Similar (CS). Adam splits his screen against reference drawings to demonstrate real-world modelling workflow.

Build the second floor with strategic cutouts to create vaulted bedroom ceilings below. Create a pitched roof by drawing the footprint, then convert from hip to gable by turning off "defines slope" on the end edges. Set the roof pitch to 45 degrees and adjust internal wall top offsets to meet the sloped ceiling.

Model ramps with gradient settings based on UK building regulations, creating landings by drawing two segments. Draw railings using sketch path with offset values, or use Adam's preferred alternative: create a 50mm glass wall type with unconnected height at 1100mm for clean glass balustrades. The lesson covers rotating and copying glass panels with disallowed joins for a crisp modern finish.

Place 910mm internal doors from the architectural template, then load double doors with glazing and garage doors from Autodesk families. Set up curtain walls for large glazed areas - the front elevation becomes a curtain wall with a 1500mm upstand below. Use CS (create similar) and space bar to flip door swings as you work through each room.

Create facade articulation by splitting walls and swapping to a thicker 450mm type - the deeper cavity creates shadow reveals at gable panels. Place furniture via the Autodesk Family Cloud (sofas, coffee tables) and download third-party families like gym equipment from manufacturer websites. Build a model-in-place TV wall using simple extrusions aligned to full height.

Understand the difference between model lines (LI shortcut, appear in all views) and detail lines (DL, view-specific) - use model lines for kitchen cabinets that need to show everywhere, detail lines for annotations. Create custom line styles via Manage > Additional Settings, like red dashed lines for boundary markings. Set up callouts at 1:10 scale and add detail lines for lintels and construction information.

Create landform using the Toposolid tool from Massing and Site - either from a survey file (ideal) or from scratch for simple sites. Draw a boundary, cut around the building footprint using trim and split, then add a gentle slope toward the rear using split lines with elevation adjustments. Apply diagonal hatch patterns and light grey materials to the ground plane.

Set up grid lines (found in both Architecture and Structure tabs) to define structural column positions where gridlines intersect. Create a proper 350mm exterior wall type by duplicating and editing layers: 100mm masonry blockwork as structure, 150mm rigid insulation in the cavity, and brick finish with a 10mm air gap. Changes apply universally across the project.

Organize the project browser into views, legends, schedules, and sheets - views are where you create plans, sections, elevations and 3D perspectives. Create view templates by setting up a drawing with the right scale, level of detail, and visibility settings, then save it as "1:50 Construction Plan" or "1:50 Planning Plan". Add project parameters to categorise views by purpose.

Place room tags using the Architecture tab - Revit recognises boundaries automatically based on walls with "room bounding" checked. Use room separators to split open-plan spaces (separating entrance hall from living area) and hide the separator lines via view template settings. Double-click tags to rename rooms, edit the family to change fonts and colours, and use "tag all" to label every room on a floor.

Tag doors using annotate > tag all, then rename marks to follow a consistent convention: ID-00-001 (internal door, ground floor, number one). For curtain wall doors, hit tab to select the panel, load a curtain wall panel door family, and swap the glazed panel for the door type. Create schedules that pull mark, type, dimensions and location data directly from the model.

Add spot elevations to show floor levels relative to a datum, coordinates for setting out (Northing/Easting - requires survey data), and tread numbers to stairs for construction drawings. Create architectural sections at 1:50, then use callouts to zoom into junctions at 1:10 scale. Add detail lines for lintels, DPCs, and other construction information.

Create sheets with custom title blocks - start from File > New > Family > Title Block template rather than the basic sheet. Build the title block with lines, text, and parameter labels that pull project information automatically. Use a naming convention like RBA-271-(2-)A101: company code, project number, package code, and sequential drawing number.

Install Pro Sheets (Dirus plugin from Autodesk App Store) to avoid Revit's clunky native print dialog. The plugin automatically recognises portrait vs landscape orientation and paper sizes without manual configuration. Set custom file naming using project name, sheet number and sheet name tokens, then export entire drawing sets to PDF in seconds.

Edit window families to create arched openings by hitting tab twice to select the wall cut shape, then modifying the profile with arcs. The changes apply to all instances of that window type across the project. Use trim tools to clean up the cut profile and add glazing that follows the new shape.

Add model lines to window families showing opening indicators (triangles for top-hung windows) by picking the glazing as the work plane so lines sit flush. Control visibility using detail level settings - turn off display in coarse and medium so indicators only show on fine detail views. Set lines to "hidden line projection" for a dashed appearance on elevations.

Create presentation-quality diagrams by selecting a monochromatic colour palette in Adobe Color first. Open visibility graphics (VV), expand all categories, and apply your palette to cut patterns, projection lines, and backgrounds. Adjust materials to match your scheme - walls in one shade, floors in another - to produce diagrams that challenge Revit's reputation for ugly output.

Access model-in-place via Architecture > Component to create custom geometry when standard tools fall short. Choose a category (walls, roofs, generic model) and use extrusion to draw 2D spline profiles that pull into 3D forms. Pick a work plane on an existing wall, sketch your shape, set start/end depths, and finish. Blend creates tapered forms; sweep runs a profile along a path.

Create Zaha Hadid-inspired fluid forms using Massing and Site > In-Place Mass. Draw spline profiles on two parallel work planes (use temporary walls as reference), select both, and hit Create Form to generate a lofted surface. Apply roof by face to wrap the mass with a real roof element, then keep the mass hidden so you can edit handles and watch the geometry update.