Top library sources. Part 1: BIM objects
- Maria Kalashnikova
- Apr 14, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 6, 2023
It's always easier to start your project when you have a collection of the most frequent elements. So we decided to help you to make this collection and picked the best resources with elements for your project. We hope it will save a considerable amount of time!
What is a BIM object?
BIM objects or libraries / families / system files in most of the cases are elements for BIM softwares that are based on the real elements. These elements contain detailed information about geometry in 3D, 2D representation and product characteristics.
BIM Object
For software: Archicad, Sketchup, Revit, 3DsMax, Microstation, Rhino, CAD-solutions
Price: Free
Type of library: Architecture / Engineering / Construction
Who can add objects: Manufacturers only
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
All objects here are based on the real items and can can easily get to the manufacturer's website. These objects also include a full description. And you can sort by the category, by the manufacturer and country (which is also important). Available in many languages and also contain IES files for lightning that could be used for renders.
👉 Website: https://www.bimobject.com/en
National BIM Library
For software: Archicad, Sketchup, Vectorworks, Revit, 3DsMax, Tekla, AECOsim, IFC, CAD-solutions
Price: Free
Type of library: Architecture / Engineering / Construction / Landscape
Who can add objects: Manufacturers only
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂🙂🙂
This library contains 1000s of objects from leading UK and global manufacturers. All objects meet the requirements of the internationally-recognized NBS BIM Object Standard and based on the real items.
👉 Website: https://www.nationalbimlibrary.com/en/
ARCAT
For software: Sketchup, Revit, CAD-solutions
Price: Free
Type of library: Architecture / Engineering / Construction
Who can add objects: Manufacturers only
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂
The ARCAT BIM library has thousands of data-rich BIM objects and systems. This library has more construction elements and less furniture and interior items. You can also find free Architectural CAD drawings and blocks for download in dwg or pdf file formats. The search for BIM objects on the website is not really obvious, but still you might find interesting elements there.
👉 Website: https://www.arcat.com/bim/bim_objects.shtml
BIMSmith Market
For software: Archicad, Vectorworks, Sketchup, Revit, Bentley, IES, STP, SAT, 3DsMax, CAD-solutions, IFC
Price: Free
Type of library: Architecture / Engineering / Construction
Who can add objects: Manufacturers only
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂🙂🙂
BIMSmith Market is another UK based library source. It has flexible search filters and allows you to search for objects and materials. It is also allows you to download IES files for lighting.
👉 Website: https://market.bimsmith.com/
Modlar
For software: Archicad, Vectorworks, Sketchup, Revit, Bentley, IFC, CAD-solutions
Price: Free
Type of library: Architecture / Engineering / Construction
Who can add objects: Manufacturers & Users
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂🙂
There are thousands of products and product information. Here you can search by category or brand and download 2D elements and 3D models, free of charge. Some of the objects contain Specs in PDF.
👉 Website: https://www.modlar.com/
Archispace
For software: Archicad, Sketchup, Revit, 3DsMax, CAD-solutions
Price: Free
Type of library: Architecture / Engineering / Construction
Who can add objects: Manufacturers
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂
The website has an old design, but still allows you to search by the object type, file type and manufacturer. You can find not only objects there, but CAD detail drawings.
👉 Website: https://www.archispace.com/
CAD details
For software: Sketchup, Revit, CAD-solutions
Price: Free
Type of library: Architecture / Engineering / Construction
Who can add objects: Manufacturers
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂🙂
Find thousands of free, high-quality BIM Models to use in your projects on CAD details. You can find both objects and 2D-drawings. The CAD details contains 500,000+ CAD drawings.
👉 Website: https://www.caddetails.com/
BIM&CO
For software: Archicad, Sketchup, Revit, AllPlan, Rhino, IFC
Price: Free
Type of library: Architecture / Engineering / Construction / Landscape
Who can add objects: Manufacturers, Users
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂🙂🙂
The number of objects is not really huge (compared to BIMobject), but you can find here hospital, construction and other helpful collections and categories.
👉 Website: https://www.bimandco.com/
Martela
For software: Archicad, Revit
Price: Free
Type of library: Architecture
Who can add objects: Manufacturers
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂🙂🙂
Martela is a furniture manufacturer who developed BIM-objects of the almost all items in Archicad and Revit formats. They focused on the furniture for working and learning. The GDL objects for Archicad all come in a single, easily downloadable Archicad library.
👉 Website: https://martela.com/
Caroma
For software: Archicad, SketchUp, Revit, 3DsMax, CAD-solutions
Price: Free
Type of library: Architecture
Who can add objects: Manufacturers
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂🙂🙂
The library contains sanitary ware only of several manufacturers. Objects have very detailed description and highly detailed 3D representation.
👉 Website: https://specify.caroma.com.au/
BIM Components
For software: Archicad
Price: Free
Type of library: Architecture / Engineering / Construction
Who can add objects: Manufacturers, Users
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂🙂
BIM Components is a resource that was developed by GRAPHISOFT, but it mostly contains custom objects that were designed and uploaded by users. Not all of objects here are "BIM" because of that. A nice feature of this resource: all users can run searches from their Archicads not only within the local library but directly on the website without any add-ons.
👉 Website: https://bimcomponents.com/
3D Warehouse
For software: Sketchup
Price: Free
Type of library: Architecture / Engineering / Construction / Landscape / Other
Who can add objects: Manufacturers, Users
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
3D Warehouse is another vendor developed resource that is replenished mostly by users. This library is also more for visualization instead of designing in BIM as the main part of objects doesn't contain information and might not have the geometry of the original item. However 3D Warehouse is a really helpful source with the wide choice of elements.
👉 Website: https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/
BIM Archiproducts
For software: Archicad, SketchUp, Revit, Vectorworks, 3DsMax, CAD-solutions
Price: Free
Type of library: Architecture / Construction / Other
Who can add objects: Manufacturers
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
BIM archiproducts is a website that provides a platform for architects and designers to browse and download BIM (Building Information Modeling) objects and files for various products, including furniture, lighting, and building materials. It offers a wide range of BIM resources to help professionals in the construction and design industries to plan, design and build their projects more efficiently.
👉 Website: https://bim.archiproducts.com/
BIMARIUM
For software: Archicad, Revit, SketchUp, 3DsMax, Rhino
Price: Free / $12 - $100
Type of library: Architecture
Who can add objects: Manufacturers
User friendly search and sorting: 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
It provides a library of free and paid BIM content for architects, engineers, and construction professionals to use in their projects. The website offers multiple plans, including free plan (up to 10 free objects each day).
👉 Website: https://www.bimarium.com/
Bonus for Archicad users:
Import Revit, Sketchup, Rhinoceros and 3DsMax objects to your Archicad project
We have a good news for Archicad users: you have more options than the others! You can easily import Revit, Sketchup, Rhinoceros and 3Ds files!
Get all the details in the article 👉 How to import 3D models to Archicad
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