Having trouble turning your sketches into Revit models? This massing tutorial will show you step-by-step how to use walls, control shape curves, add openings, and materials to create a curved roof from mass.

Details: Create a curved roof using Revit mass and void extrusions.

Step 1

Go to the Architecture tab > Build panel > click Wall. Create the boundary walls.

Add walls to plan view
Walls with the Start-End-Radius Arc tool.

Learn more about creating curved wall profiles.

Step 2

Go to the Massing and Site tab > Conceptual Mass panel > click In-Place Mass. Create the complex geometry as conceptual mass.

In-Place Mass in Revit

To create a curved roof mass:

  1. In the Draw panel, select the “spline through points” tool.
  2. Add multiple points to create parallel lines.
  3. Hold down the CTRL key and select all lines.
  4. In the Form panel, click Create Form.
Wire Frame 3D view

To adjust the curves of the roof:

  1. Go to the 3D view.
  2. Select the spline points > Use the XYZ arrow to change their positions.
Add lines using spline through points

Step 3

Click the top view side of the view cube, and then create a void extrusion to change the shape of the roof.

Roof top view in 3D viewport
Edit model in-place

To connect the roof to the walls:

  1. In the Draw panel, select the Pick Lines tool.
  2. Select the outer lines of one side of your design.
  3. Add straight lines around the outside of the shape.
  4. Select the enclosed profile.
  5. In the Form panel > drop-down Create Form menu > click Void Form.
Add void extrusions to empty the shape from the outside
Void form controls

Switch to the 3D view and make sure that the void boxes intersect the mass vertically.

Cut Geometry

When you are done with the form, click Finish Mass.

Step 4

Go to the Architecture tab > Build panel > drop-down Roof menu > click Roof By Face.

To turn the mass into a solid roof:

  1. Select the mass.
  2. In the Multiple Selection panel, drop-down Roof menu > click Create Roof.
Roof by Face

For fixing the walls to the roof:

  1. Hold down the CTRL key and select all walls.
  2. In the Modify Wall panel, click Attach Top/Base.
  3. Click the roof.

Here is the video version for this tutorial:

When planning, also think about human factors such as lighting. Think about how natural light will shine on your roof at different times of day and how artificial light will be used at night.

Learn more about how to use perspective sections to visualize 3D models.

Repeat the process for different parts with different properties. Use different materials to find the perfect combination for your design.