Mastering Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2012

Massing UI and Functionality

You might not think that you need to use massing tools when you first begin using Revit if you tend to design conventional or rectilinear buildings. But you'll quickly find that just because you don't create complex buildings, a lot of buildings contain complex features or parts that require a firm understanding of the massing tool.

Massing is certainly used to create masses—that is, forms with geometric substance (solids and voids). But the massing tool is also used to create complex surfaces that can be used to create relationships to other host elements. Without these mass- or surface-based relationships, it'd be really hard to create and reiterate system families such as walls and curtain walls. You'd essentially ...