Kitchen casework - In place vs loadable families

[ConstantineC]

Hello

I`v recently been interested in kitchen design and learning typical workflows in Revit.

I know the difference between in place vs loadable family but I am still not very clear which is the most common way.

Usually every kitchen project is unique so by this standard, using in place components can work. I also know that most professionals usually advise to work with loadable families for being able to re-use the designs.

After doing a random search I found a website where some architect firm explaining their workflow, they basically  use in place components and then perhaps add some loadable families for. You can check it here

 https://www.haynearchitects.com/hereathayne/tips-tricks-casework-in-revit/

Is that a common workflow?

Are there any disadvantages besides not being able to save the in place family? Can you copy paste it? 

[SteveKStafford]

Loadable (component) families are ideal for anything that will be reused and/or placed multiple times in a project. In-place families should be reserved for one-off conditions or that can't be completed via a loadable family.

For example, a ceiling that curves in section cannot be created with the ceiling tool so an in-place family makes it possible to create a ceiling category element that can use form creation not available to the ceiling tool itself. A counter top can be either, loadable if rectangular or basic shape while in-place might be logical if the shape is irregular and there is just one of them.

As soon as you need to place more than one instance of anything in the model using in-place families is a lesser choice.

[syman2000]

Loadable is commonly used. However I've seen cases where the loadable casework family is nested into a larger casework kitchen family. As well, the majority of the project would utilize groups when creating a kitchen.That group can be saved into a file and loaded into other projects with all the tags and dimensions attached with it. 

As well I've seen casework done with railing and curtain wall. This is useful for the early design phase where no detail is required.

[mhiserZFHXS]

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@ConstantineC wrote:

Usually every kitchen project is unique so by this standard, using in place components can work. I also know that most professionals usually advise to work with loadable families for being able to re-use the designs.

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Best practice is to make your families parametric so that they can be modified to be reused in similar conditions, like making the width and depth of a counter flexible. This way they can be reused in a project even if the conditions are not exactly the same.

On the flip side, families can be overly parametric, to the point that the time put into building it can't be made up with time saved in the future, or where the family is too complicated to be used easily by someone not familiar with how it was built.

The challenge with family creation is to figure out where that line is for you and your firm/team. I certainly fell into the trap of overly complicated families when I first started making them.

[ToanDN]

Loadable families for elements that may be used multiple times, in multiple projects.  In-place models can be used for one off unique conditions.

[ConstantineC]

Interesting, I didnt know you can save an in place family as a group and import it in another project, thats what you mean or it`s only for the loadable ones?

By the way I just seen your Youtube channel, you have alot of usefull videos there! Did you just build Sou Foujimoto`s house in Revit including all the surrounding buildings?

[syman2000]

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@ConstantineC wrote:

Interesting, I didnt know you can save an in place family as a group and import it in another project, thats what you mean or it`s only for the loadable ones?

By the way I just seen your Youtube channel, you have alot of usefull videos there! Did you just build Sou Foujimoto`s house in Revit including all the surrounding buildings?

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Yes you can save group to another file.

As for the Sou Fujimoto NA House, I did built the building. As for surround building, it is using Enscape asset.