Design software

[bilko]

Just a quicky, Does anyone have any recomendations/suggestions for software that i can design a house with?, not to spectacular blueprint standard but enough for me to have underground parking, stone walls, wooden decks, inglenook, spiral staircase going up to a glass domed observatory for housing a 16" Meade!. Hope you get the idea, the sort of thing you can do a walk through with and recognise all the walls and rudimentry furniture etc.
To run on a 500mhz processor with win 98 second. Probably £60 give or take.
Always fancied designing my own house and have a whole section in my brain full of ideas for it!
MMMmmmm.....woodpile, courtyard! open fire
Thanks
Ian

[TheExcession]

Hey Ian,

I've just started playing with FloorPlan 3D version 8 by IMSI.

Just like you I've got some ideas for a house and am hoping to start a build in about 12 months time.

It seems to do everything you'd expect although I'm struggling to define a plot situtated on the side of a hill.

Still, if you've got a rough idea about your layout you can knock up some walls, windows and doors in a matter of minutes and then do an animated walk through.

Haven't figured out spiral staircases yet, but I'm sure they're in there somewhere - as with all packages like this it takes a few months of regular use to get to the bottom of all the features.

Not sure how much it costs as I've *borrowed* this version from a mate - think its well under £100.


best
ex

[simpo two]

Hang on Bilko, if you can afford a house like that you can afford a better computer!!

[stevieb]

I can lay my hands on some Arcitect software for £160 a license


I use it for house plans and structured wiring plans as an overlay.

Steve

[bilko]

Thanks guys
Ex, that sounds about right i'll have a look at it on amazon. Thanks stevie but that sounds like a complicated package and if i could afford a house like the one in my dreams i would get one of you lot to build me a super computer with all the bells and whistles although there is still lots of time left in this old fossil, i hope.
This is more like purchasing a game for the pc so can see what my dream house would actually look like.
Thanks once again all!

[KormaChameleon]

Ian,

I bought 3D Home Designer from Arcon (gm Software) for a fiver for the wife in PC World a few months ago. It looks OK but I noticed there were various upgrade packages aimed at the more professional market.

HTH.

[arcturus]

I use ArCon 5 although I believe ArCon 7 is the current version. Very flexible and you can do almost anything with it. I paid £50 at a home improvement show a couple of years ago although you can buy it online here www.onlinewarehouse.biz/3darchitect/arcon/

If you speak German, you can look at the manufacturers site here: www.kubex-software.de

Don't worry, the program is in English.

[fluffy]

If you want a cheap but fairly powerful solution try:
www.techsoftuk.co.uk/2D.htm
We use it at school and its really good and simple to use.
You can download the demo and try it.
Hope this helps

[rmhodv]

Hi Bilko

I'm a draughtsman and for the money you want to spend I'd go for AutoSketch. It's quite good for the money. Also on the plus side 90-95%of Architechs, planing officers use AutoCad (All part of the Autodesk family)so you can e-mail drawings around knowing that when they get them they will be able to read them. I have included a link to tell you more about it.www.autodesk.co.uk/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=452932&id=2772441

[bilko]

rmhodv said:

Hi Bilko I'm a draughtsman and for the money you want to spend I'd go for AutoSketch. It's quite good for the money. Also on the plus side 90-95%of Architechs, planing officers use AutoCad (All part of the Autodesk family)so you can e-mail drawings around knowing that when they get them they will be able to read them. I have included a link to tell you more about it.www.autodesk.co.uk/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=452932&id=2772441

Thanks for the info
I will have a look at some more reviews, although the cheapest i can find it for is £140 and it doesn't seem to mention an awfull lot about 3D , flypasts and walkabout. Been looking at a lot of stuff done by PUNCH and the reviews have not been positive.
Mostly products seem to range from £20-50, Then hover round the £100 mark, after that you are talking silly money unless you are using it in your proffession etc and like i said this is just a sort of project for me.

[cirks]

>Been looking at a lot of stuff done by PUNCH and the >reviews have not been positive.

funnily, I've found mixed reviews on the Architect Series 18 Punch software. I found a good one at www.computerbuyer.co.uk/labs/labs_story.php?id=54289 There are a couple of other products reviewed too.

List price is £89.99 but just ordered it from Amazon for £54. Thought I'd give it a go.

[Incorrigible]

I used Punch home design suite for mine

£40 IIRC Good value