UPDATE: April 2nd, 2012: Paper
Since my purchase of Apple’s iPad I have continuously been searching for useful applications for my use as a landscape architecture student. The list grows by the day. In this post I will list applications I have come to use regularly in my studies, as well as recommendations on useful tools for the architect and designer on the go. Many of the applications featured in this list have previously been selected as App of the Week in the Apple application store. As such, only quality apps are on this list. Clicking on the links will take you to the application’s information page connected to iTunes.
I will update this post with more handy apps as time goes by – If you have recommendations, don’t hesitate to leave me a reply!
General Productivity
Dropbox has been around for a while now, and as a student this program is invaluable – backup of important files, group projects, etc. The iPad app lets you view your Dropbox folders and content, and the photo viewer is especially neat.
As previously mentioned, a great brainstorming tool that makes sharing of ideas very simple.
Taking notes and keeping them synchronised between your platforms by keeping everything in a searchable information cloud. A necessity.
The hand-written notebook of choice, this application rose from great to excellent with the addition of customised backgrounds – which allows you to take notes on, say, a landscape plan.
The only PDF-reader you will ever need. Fast, reliable, and it even has options for annotation in the documents.
Elegant annotation and presentation tool.
Interactive brainstorming and visual thinking tool, with a very user friendly approach.
Architecture Tools & CAD
The AutoCAD WS allows you to sync CAD-drawings using a registered account to view and share them when not on your work computer, as well as minor editing.
GraphPad is a touch based engineering drawing application that allows users to quickly create accurate, to scale drawings on the iPad.
Precision vector 2D drawing & design tool, with handy export features.
For the interior designer, this application allows you to create and redecorate rooms, add furniture, materials and textures, and export the results in to-scale graphics.
Inception enables architects to rapidly develop preliminary scopes, conceptual budgets, bubble diagrams and total project cost analyses.
Remember that chunky Space Navigator? Shelf time. This app lets you control your 3D models through your iPad.
A 3D augmented reality viewer app, handy for getting a feel for the spatial variability of the solar angle throughout the year.
This extremely handy application allows you to measure dimensions and angles, as well as make annotations in your photos. Share your material afterwards in just a few taps. A real time saver, and a general must-have.
SightSpace allows you to view Google SketchUp models on the go, and if you have an iPhone or iPad2 you can use the integrated augmented reality feature to see how the model will look placed on site.
View and present BIM models through this 3D presentation tool.
Norwegian application: Norsk Prisbok 2011 contains extensive lists of price and construction data for the Norwegian market.
Landscaping & Planting
This app has an extensive index of plants for regular use by landscape architects, with pictures and valuable practice options for students.
This is a compilation of over 5000 plants; flowers, trees and shrubs, searchable by common or scientific name. An essential guide for landscape architects.
This educational, free mobile app uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species from photographs of their leaves.
Based on Michael A. Dirr’s Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, this app allows you to search through 1670 species and 7800 cultivars of plants by 72 different criteria, including hardiness zones, water and light requirements, growth characteristics, flowers, fruits, and fall colors.
A very handy tool for on-site visualisations, this app allows you to place built-in plant images and material textures to photos.
Drawing, Sketching & Visualisation
The sexiest sketchbook app to date. Check out the review at Engadget here.
Doodle in real time with your colleagues. This app allows you to share ideas through sketching, and supports creative sessions with up to four iPad users simultaneously. It also has built-in voice chat.
My preferred application for getting that elusive idea down on “paper” when I need to.
For those visual ideas that needs some extra juice.
As above, only with a more authentic feel. If Sketchbook Pro feels like Photoshop light, this feels more like Painter.
An intuitive, minimalistic sketching tool, resembling the feel of charcoal drawing. Read more and see examples in my post here.
A professional painting and sketching app, with an incredibly stable and powerful engine. Highly recommended.
A lightweight and powerful photo editor, with especially brilliant filter functions.
With Autodesk® 123D™ Sculpt you can sculpt and paint interesting and realistic 3D shapes.
Import and view your Rhino 3D models and export pictures. Red and cyan 3D-glasses sold separately!
Networking & Social Media
The #1 social media application; it creates a magazine layout of your social media feeds.
The official app is the only app you need.
Phone- and videocalls for the iPad.
Lightweight blog editor with the functions you need for creating a post on the go, without the awkwardness of tiny smartphone screens.
Good looking and easy to use Flickr application.
Inspirational
Inspirational lectures for streaming or download.
A constantly updated picture stream of new architecture.
- Yes is More! An Archicomic on Architectural Evolution by BIG
YES IS MORE is a manifesto of architecture produced by the Copenhagen-based group BIG, told in comic book form.
Browse the latest work of famous designers worldwide.
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Filed under: Apps, Compilations, Tools, applications, architecture, blogging, CAD, ipad, landscaping, planting, productivity, social media
There’s a new engineering design application called GraphPad out which I think you’ll find interesting. It’s a very intuitive and specifically designed for the iPad. There’s a lot more information about it at http://www.robertshawhan.com.
Hey Rob,
That looks neat – I’ll check it out.
Edit: Post updated!
We’ve been working hard on Architactile Inception for iPad for about a year. Version 1 was released in January. Inception is a tool for the iPad developed specifically for architects that allows the rapid development of preliminary scope, conceptual budget and bubble diagrams for new projects. It’s mostly used as part of the sales process for architectural services to prove high level feasibility of a project to both the client and the architect. Our clients say that Inception saves them weeks during the early stages of project acquisition.
http://architactile.com
Matt Galloway
Founder & Chief Technologist, Architactile
Phone: 918-808-3072
Thanks for the comment! A handy tool, indeed – post updated!
[...] Links to the abovementioned applications for drawing and sketching can be found here. [...]
[...] best iPad apps for architects I will discuss in this post does not come in order and I hope that these software will help you [...]
[...] are several top quality sketching applications available for the iPad. I’ve previously listed some of my personal favorites. Today I wanted to share some examples of sketches done in ASketch. This app is a very intuitive [...]
Autodesk Labs newly released what they call 123D: http://www.123dapp.com. Sculpt for the iPad seemes very exciting (haven’t tested yet) from what they show at the website. Maybe someting for your list?
Hey Knut! Nice to see you dropping by.
I’ve tested 123D, and it is indeed interesting. The application is surprisingly lightweight and the sculpting tools are intuitive. For us architects, however, the use may be somewhat limited – in my experience, it only allows for sculpting of relatively small objects. But as an interior designer or concept designer it is indeed worth a go. I’ll add it to the list!
don’t worry Daniel, I’ll be dropping by rett som det er
and I agree. It’s not very useful. Yet. but a funny and intuitive way to model and hopefully we will have something similar to work with some day.
the “123d Catch” however is quite useful right away. not for the iPad. yet. but worth a go!
2 Questions – I’m in the process of getting my dad (architect) up to speed with his iPad. Of the above mentioned apps, which ones can you not live without. Also, do you have a favorite stylus? There are so many out there and he is so picky. I thought you might be able to share some insight.
Thanks
Hi Holly,
I would at least get the sketching apps; they are brilliant. Get Snapseed for picture editing, as well. I use all of the listed productivity apps – always a need for good note takers, document viewers and cloud storage applications. For your architect father, AutoCAD WS will come in handy, and I’d check out Sightspace 3D too; not necessarily a must-have, however. I’m currently reviewing a number of new applications that might be of interest, as well, including a 3D-model controller application called Maide Control (an application that allows you to pan, zoom and orbit 3D-models in the same fashion as the external Space Navigator). Information on these will be up soon.
Regarding styluses there are indeed many available. I’ve only tested a few, and ordered a Wacom Bamboo stylus for myself (see my review of it here). I can recommend that one highly; I’ve used it daily since I got it.
Perfect! I currently have the Bamboo wrapped and ready to go so I know I’m on the right track! I thought I might also get him the Jot Pro, but I guess we’ll see how he likes this one first.
Thanks so much for your input. I’ll be looking for the updated reviews.
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Using Glovius, you can view Sketchup, 3DS, Obj and many other 3D format files on your ipad.To improve the performance, we convert the files into a format more suitable for these mobile devices.
We have made Glovius app for iOS and Android devices free till Feb 14, 2012.
hi, very useful info. i am from bangalore, India. looking at gifting an ipad2 for my son who is into 2nd Year under graduation in Architecture. would the basic ipad2, 32GB do or should i go for higher versions…thanks in advance
Hi Babu,
Glad to hear that you find my post useful.
I’ve been using a 32 GB version myself and have never had issues with lack of storage space. I would consider the iPad 3, however, as it was just released. I’ve been running the first generation till now and am finally considering an upgrade (mainly to get the camera functionality, and as such I could have settled for the iPad 2 – but as they say, the stronger, the better).
Best,
Daniel
Definitely the new ipad is the way forward.
Clear is a great simple task list app that I use lots. PaperDesk is great for notes and sketching.
I’m also developing my own app to allow designers at early stages to assemble bubble diagrams.
Keep an eye on my website and wish me luck.
http://www.plansort.com
Hi Morrow,
Most definitely! Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll check them out – and I’ll keep your app in mind!
Hey Daniel..A great post for ipad newbies who are arhitects..I have just got an ipad for my architect friend and this post made all the difference…Thanks so mch..Keep posting..
Thanks! Happy to hear it!
Hi Daniel…Your list is definitely handy but its more than an year old now. As I mentioned earlier I want apps which works for an architect. Should I still follow the above list or are there apps which are better than them?
I downloaded penultimate but my friend(vivian), he hardly uses it. He liked bamboo better (I downloded the free version for trial).
I also want your suggestion on sketchpads- whether to go for procreate or sketchbook. I have read many reviews and I am persuaded to go for procreate but i think it lacks certain tools which might come handy for vivi- use of rulers and grids, basic geometric shapes and in general tools for line drawings. What is ur take on this- sketchbook pro or procreate?!
I and perhaps many others would be grateful if you could consider making a new list of archi apps combining the best of old and new.
thanks
Hi Shahnaz,
Time flies fast in the digital world – but rest assured, the apps listed are still great, and most are updated quite frequently. I will probably revise the list soon as some of the applications have become obsolete, and newer apps have taken their place. There are also differences now between the apps supporting the higher resolution retina displays and those who do not, something that should be mentioned on a list such as this.
Regarding sketchbooks it really depends on preference. Personally I rarely sit down to create professional looking visualisations on the go these days, although I could with the tools available. Both Sketchbook Pro and Procreate are great apps – Procreate has a better resource management and thus runs smoother, allowing for a more free painting technique. The UI is also cleaner than that of Sketchbook Pro. That said, for sketching I almost exclusively use Paper now – I prefer the minimalist approach to sketchbooks. Layers, effects and brush styles are great and all, but for getting ideas down fast you want as little clutter as possible, I find. My teacher uses Brushes (an app that’s not on my list). I’d recommend trying the different ones out to see which one feels better for you.
To draw accurate geometric shapes, rulers and grids you’d want more technical tools; such as iDesign.
Hi D – have you had many people ask about similar android app’s? in a similar situation as you, working on putting together a nice toolbox of app’s, but all your suggestions are strictly for apple. do you or anyone else you know have this info and are they willing to share it?
Hi Mike,
I haven’t recieved any questions about android equivalents at all, no – and it’s a good question indeed. I use an android phone myself but it’s been limited to note-taking and the like…It would be very interesting to see a similar list for android tablets. I personally don’t know anyone using android tablets, to be honest…
D