Curtain Wall Components

Reference Line

The Reference Line is the original input line/polyline/arc you draw in the window. If you use a Boundary method to create a Curtain Wall, the first drawn segment of the Boundary is the Reference Line.

You can Flip the Curtain Wall orientation relative to the Reference Line, using the Flip command in the Info Box.

The Reference Line is part of the Curtain Wall Scheme (together with the Scheme Grid pattern, the Boundary, and the Base Surface.)

Later, you can edit the Reference Line of a placed Curtain Wall.

See Edit Curtain Wall Reference Line.

Reference Surface

The Reference Surface is an imaginary plane or arced surface automatically created by ARCHICAD by extruding the input line (polyline, arc) you have drawn. Often, you will place your input line along an existing ARCHICAD element (e.g. slab); the Reference Surface is extruded from this input line.

Base Surface

The Base Surface defines the shape and orientation of the Curtain Wall. It is the surface in which the physical members of the Curtain Wall (Frame, Panels) lie. The Base Surface may coincide with the Reference Surface; more likely, you will offset it. When you move or rotate the Curtain Wall as a whole, it is the Base Surface which you are moving; the Reference Line and Reference Surface move along with the Base Surface.

The Base Surface of Curtain Walls is an infinite plane - except if it is based on a curved shape. (The Base Surface of a curved Curtain Wall is cylindrical, and is infinite only in the direction of the cylinder’s axis.)

A Curtain Wall’s infinite Base Surface gives you great freedom in connecting the Curtain Wall to other elements, and in adding multiple, bounded Curtain Wall portions to any Curtain Wall.

See Add Additional Curtain Wall Boundary.

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/archicad-25/040_elementsvb/CWDiagram.png 

Boundary

The Boundary is a simple polygon on the Base Surface, which represents the physical limits of the Curtain Wall.

The Boundary is part of the Curtain Wall Scheme (together with the Scheme Grid, the Base Surface and the Reference Line).

Depending on the geometry method used to create the Curtain Wall, the Boundary is either drawn by you or created by ARCHICAD in accordance with input parameters.

You can draw additional boundaries on an existing Curtain Wall - this gives you freedom to separate the Curtain Wall into parts, while still keeping it as a single element: all parts of the Curtain Wall use the identical Scheme.

See Add Additional Curtain Wall Boundary.

The Curtain Wall’s Boundary Frame always coincides with this Boundary polygon.

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/archicad-25/040_elementsvb/BoundaryPic.png 

You can edit the Boundary of the Curtain Wall like any other polygon.

Scheme

The Scheme contains the essential geometry definitions (Base Surface, Scheme Grid, Reference Line) of the Curtain Wall.

Use Scheme Settings to arrange the grid line pattern in two directions (“row” and “column”). The Scheme also defines the classes to which frames and panels within this basic pattern belong.

See Curtain Wall Scheme Settings.

All other members of the Curtain Wall (Frames, Panels, Accessories, Junctions) are attached to the Scheme.

Scheme Grid

The Base Surface is crisscrossed by a Scheme Grid (grid lines in rows and columns, defined as part of the Curtain Wall Scheme.)

The Scheme Grid defines the default location and arrangement of Frames and Panels in the Curtain Wall. You can edit the Scheme Grid (delete, add grid lines, move or rotate it). Changes to Scheme Grid geometry will change the geometry of its Frames and Panels accordingly.

See Edit Grid and Grid Lines in Edit Mode.

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/archicad-25/040_elementsvb/SchemePic.png 

Frame

Each Frame class (e.g. Boundary, Mullion, Transom, or any other user-defined class) has unique settings. Frames are attached to the Scheme Grid when you create the Curtain Wall, so if you move or delete a Grid Line, you move or delete the Frame. (In Curtain Wall Edit mode, you can place additional Frames independent of the Scheme Grid.)

See Curtain Wall Frames.

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/archicad-25/040_elementsvb/FramePic.png 

Panel

Panels are the flat surfaces - generally glazed - of the Curtain Wall. Curtain Walls have two predefined classes: Main and Distinct, plus any user-defined Panel classes. Panels are always placed between Frames.

See Curtain Wall Panels.

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/archicad-25/040_elementsvb/PanelPic.png 

Junction

A Curtain Wall Junction is an optional structure that serves to connect panels to the Frame. In ARCHICAD, a Junction is a GDL object, and can be placed either one by one, or automatically at every intersection.

See Curtain Wall Junctions.

Accessories

Accessories are optional, non-load-bearing members - such as a sun shade - attached to the Curtain Wall. These are GDL objects placed at any Frame of an existing Curtain Wall.

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/archicad-25/040_elementsvb/AccessoryPic.png 

See Curtain Wall Accessories.

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