Features

2D to 3D in an instant

The 3D Architect Home Designer enables you to draw in a more flexible environment than ever before. With two distinct workspaces, you can quickly and accurately design floor plans in our 2D construction mode and check the results instantly in the 3D model in design mode.

Room planning mode

One of a number of different ways to construct a design in 3D Architect Home Designer, the room planning tool enables you to build a complete floorplan one room at a time. Select a room shape which closest matches to the design you have in mind and add to your plan area. Then add a dimension for each wall to create an accurate sized room. Repeat the process with other rooms to create a full floorplan.

Rooms created with the room planner tool can then be split into their component parts for further editing using the standard wall tools.

Multiple Views

3D Architect Home Designer provides a variety of different view types to suit all requirements and styles. Each of these can be further customised with line styles, patterns and colours. As well as standard 2D construction mode and 3D design mode, you can use sketch mode, colour overlays and numerous surface toggles to ensure you show your designs at their best.

In-line Measurements

The perfect visual tool for spacing, sizing, measuring and adjusting your building elements. Our NEW in-line measurement tool provides a fast, easy and visual method to make changes to the elements of your design quickly and easily. Usable in both 2D construction mode and 3D design mode, in-line measurements can be used to change sizes and positions of doors, windows, walls, roofs etc. Lock parts of the element that you don’t want to be effected or show the effects of drag-and-drop re-positioning.

Doors

Our doors library contains many standard door types covering internal and external doors as well as garage doors, patio doors and an ALL NEW bi-fold door tool.

The door library is just the starting point. All of the door components can be edited in great detail to ensure your project represents the elements you are using on your build.

Flexible design choices for windows

The extensive window customisation tools allow for endless variations to be produced. Select a window from the existing library and change any aspect to ensure it suits your design requirements. Save your selections, preferences and new designs to the window library for future projects.

Staircase customisation tools

Using the same layout principles as previous Arcon titles, the flexible staircase tool now allows for much greater freedom of design. Choose from a myriad of options to define all elements of the stairs, balustrades, risers and treads. Customise your 2D display to suit you preferred presentation style.

Complex roof designs made simple

Taking our expertise in simplifying the creation of complex roof structures a stage further, our new roof designer provides clearer dialogue options to help understand the elements that can be controlled. With more flexible details available to each roof side, the construction and display of even the most complex of roofs is easier than ever before.

Dormer roof editor

Create unique designs using the powerful dormer window tools. With all of the standard dormer styles available from a single menu option. Select the correct profile and customise as required with full control over pitch, window size and quantity and advanced options such as roof breaks.

Plot Tools

As part of the property design process, add in the details of your plot and use the landscaping tools to shape and contour your garden. Add individual height points to replicate known topography for a realistic representation of the property and plot in full 3D.

Use the in-built Google Maps function to locate the geographical co-ordinates of your plot and then use these to give accurate sun and shadow movements.

Powerful editing and trimming tools

3D Architect helps you to automatically trim, mitre and join construction elements and line drawing details. Combined with the use of snap and guideline functions, the drawing of you floorplans will be quick and easy. On occasion however, you may find you need to edit elements of your drawing to change shape, direction, angle or even the wall junction.

3D Architect comes complete with a full range of editing tools to allow you complete control to amend your designs.

Scaled drawing with full dimension tools

Scaled drawings often need to be annotated with precise information confirming sizes, angles, distances etc. 3D Architect comes complete with a full quota of dimension types to suit all requirements. From simple distance measurements right through to radial and arc dimensions, you can ensure you can fully annotate your drawings.

Instant Elevations

Due to the technology involved in providing 3D models from 2D floor-plans, 3D Architect can quickly produce elevation views for your designs. Commonly required as part of the planning process, elevations provide a scaled 2D view of each face of the building (normally from the standard compass points of North, East, South and West).

3D Architect enables you to generate your elevations automatically, using the height settings already defined as part of the standard drawing process.

Used by architects & building professionals worldwide

For over 15 years, Arcon has been the choice home design software system for thousands of building professionals, architects and self-builders. Working closely with our users we continue to develop and support our Arcon system to ensure it can be adapted to even the most demanding design project.

No CAD knowledge required

One of the main advantages of the Arcon system over a traditional CAD system is the use of a modular toolset. Designed specifically for building design we have been able to create an intuitive set of modules to guide you logically through the design process. This means it’s simple for anyone to learn, both experienced professionals and novice amateurs embarking on their first self-build project.

Easy to use interface for planning and design

The modular toolset enables us to provide tools and icons for specific elements of the design in a logical manner. Easily identifiable, each tool will guide you through a particular part of the design process and will be familiar to anyone having used Windows based software. Each tool can be customised and adapted to your preferred drawing style with full flexible options, easily accessed at any time.

2D plans to 3D models in a single click

Creating realistic 3d models for visualisation couldn’t be simpler. Draw your floorplans in a traditional 2d plan view and your 3d model is created automatically at the same time. With a single mouse click or key press you can then enter the 3d mode to view your design, modify finishes and fittings and take a virtual tour of your building.

Drag & drop or numeric input methods

Everyone has their preferred working methods and styles and so in Arcon we reflect this by providing multiple methods for achieving construction tasks. Use simple drag & drop to insert objects, point and click to place walls or use numeric input methods to enter dimensions such as wall lengths.

Metric and imperial measurement units

Unlike similar systems, Arcon is created to cater for either metric or imperial measurement units. Define your preferred units for each project whether it’s metres, millimetres or feet and inches. Even swap from metric and imperial and back again at anytime.

Powerful measuring and ruler tools

For simple design ideas, drawings in Arcon can easily be created freehand. However for the majority of projects you will need to know that your plans are accurate. Arcon software contains many tools to ensure that your drawing elements are spaced and aligned correctly. With powerful guidelines, rulers, origins, grids and measures you can be certain that your plans will be correct every time.

Automatic and manual dimensions tools

2d plans and elevations in Arcon are always drawn to scale (which you have full control over) and accordingly there are many ways of displaying important dimensions and measurements. Set automatic dimensions to display as you draw, choose from many styles of dimension line to add manually, use height point dimensions on elevations and cross-sections, easily add room areas and volumes and even angle dimensions.

Customisable wall construction types

Walls come complete with a number of standard settings in the library. These wall settings can be completely customised to change the library or create your own for future projects. Walls can be completely customised right down to specifying each individual layer of a wall.

Stairs editor

Generate complex stair forms. You can adjust the parameters and see the changes instantly in 3D. Supports many stair types. When placed, stairs will automatically create a ceiling cutout for the stairwell..

Produce simple or complex roof designs

For simple roof constructions you can select from any of the standard roof types in the library and simply drag and drop into position and amend pitch etc. as required. Alternatively use the free form roof editor to create complex roof designs for more unusual shaped buildings. Easily edit the roof settings from pitch and eaves height right through to wood construction details. Then modify the roof easily with dedicated tools for dormer windows and skylights.

Create split level buildings

Not all building plots are level and often a design will need to include split levels within the building. This could range from a simple step-down kitchen through to a hillside home staggered with the slope of the site. By using the ‘multiple building’ concept within Arcon it is simple to overcome these design issues enabling you to create design solution perfectly suited to your plot requirements.

Create estates and multi-building developments

With the ability to create multiple buildings per project file, Arcon is flexible enough to enable you to design entire developments and plan estates. Easily save a design and load multiple copies into your project to create a complete development.

Integrate balconies and railings

Balconies can be attached to your floorplans using the simple balcony outline tool. Define the size and placement of the balcony and it will automatically integrate with your existing walls, placing parapet walls and/or railings where needed. Take full control of the railings to change style, size, and shape right down to specifying the fitting method. Use the independent railing tool to manually add rails around decks, walkways or gallery landings.

Advanced wall outline editing

Take full control of the profile of your walls for maximum design flexibility. Decide how and where walls interact with features such as stairs and roofs. Manually edit individual wall profiles to recreate unusual shapes, architectural features of even garden walls.

Modify existing walls with flexible editing tools

The Arcon system provides you with the flexibility to produce drawings in your own way and when you need to change your plans, nothing could be simpler. With a complete suite of wall editing options available, amending, modifying or adding to your drawings is quick and intuitive. Simply select the tool that matches what you want to change and edit the wall. With options to enable you to change lengths, angles, wall ends, splitting walls, merging and trimming walls you can always ensure your designs can evolve with your requirements.

View 2d & 3d views simultaneously

Whilst it only takes a single key press or click of the mouse to toggle between the 2d construction mode and the 3d design mode, there are occasions when you may want to see both at the same time. Simply enable the 3d preview and watch everything you draw in 2d replicated in 3d as you design.

Define the site, plot or landscape

Use the define landscape tool to mark the boundaries of your building plot or site. Break the area down into individual gardens, driveways and paths using the ground area tool. The add contours using the land topography tools or even individual height points for a realistic visualisation of your building plot.

Over 7000 furniture items and objects included

The standard library contains over 7000 3d models for the furnishing and fittings of your project. Included are objects for bathrooms, kitchens, living areas, dining, gardens, offices and many more. All objects can be amended and modified, resized and adjusted as required.

Over 8000 textures and materials for decoration

Apply textures to surfaces, objects, fixtures and fittings to change their appearance and style. The add materials to provide reflective surfaces, glass properties and mirrored finishes.

Increase your library with import options

Need a specific texture or object? Can’t find anything suitable in the library? Easily add to the library to increase your options. Textures can be added in the common bmp format, enabling you to take images from the web, catalogues or you own images. Furthermore add more 3d objects to your catalogue by using the import feature to import files in the widely used 3ds standard.

Enhance your 3d scene with picture backgrounds

Select from one of the photographic backgrounds included or use your own to provide a greater insight into how your design will look in situ.

Check lighting and shadows

By selecting to use the variable daylight settings to light your 3d model, you are able to select your location anywhere in the world by entering your latitude and longitude (which can be imported from Google Maps).

3D virtual walkthrough

Analyze your design in detail with the 3d walkthrough function. Enter and explore your 3d model to check for space issues and practicality of design. With animated door and window information, check your plans will work for you.

Share information with advanced export functions

Arcon provides many ways to share your plans, drawings and models. Create image files of your 2d and 3d views, save your plans as pdf files, produce a 3d model in o2c format to share with clients or export your plans in CAD formats compatible with other software systems.