The construction of a Rundbau in Cinema 4D can turn out to be an exciting creative task. In this tutorial, you will learn how to develop a successful basic shape for a Rundbau building from a simple disc. With just a few simple steps, you can create a complex structure by selecting and extruding polygons. Let’s dive into this creative process together!
Key insights
- The floor plan of the Rundbau can be effectively created with a disc.
- Editing polygons is key to designing and varying the shape.
- Saving your work is essential for efficient progress.
Designing a Rundbau: Step-by-Step Guide
The first step is to either save your current scene or create a new file. When you open a new file, you'll get a blank workspace that gives you more freedom to design.
At this point, it's advisable to choose a disc as the basic shape. This has the advantage that you have many creative possibilities to design a round floor plan. Keep in mind that the height and dimensions of the building do not have to be to scale, as we are not physically rendering.
I set the height of the disc to about 20 cm. While sizes play a role in real architecture, this is not the case here as the sizes can be adjusted to fit the design of the model.
Now, it is important to align the disc rotated. I move it along the x-axis so that symmetry is maintained. By placing it on the x-axis, the disc divides the work into two hemispheres, which helps you in further working.
Now you can start with the polygon tool. Activate the Live Selection and remove the parts of the disc that you do not need. It’s best to start by selecting the outer polygon and separating the unnecessary areas. You can select multiple blanks in one step by holding down the Shift key and deleting them.
After you have selected and deleted the relevant polygons, you should be left with three objects: a horseshoe, a central platform, and a dominant building. This diverse arrangement allows you to develop an exciting and varied design.
To begin extrusion, select the central platform and use the Command (or Control) shortcut to click on it. Pull the object up at the upper edge to adjust the height. The platform should not be too high, so keep it compact.
For the dominant building, you can repeat the process. Make sure that this building is taller than the platform to create an interesting visual hierarchy.
I decided to set the dominant building to about 9 cm. With that, you have created the ideal foundation to further expand and refine your construction.
Don’t forget to regularly save your project. Save it under the name "Rundbau" in a previously created folder. This will help you keep your work well organized.
Before you close the file, deselect all objects to have a clean workspace. This prepares you to make arrangements for the next phase of the project.
Summary
In this guide, you learned how to model a Rundbau in Cinema 4D. From creating a suitable basic shape to the first extrusions and the valuable saving of your work - all these steps contribute to ensuring that your Rundbau project is structured and creatively designed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I save my work in Cinema 4D?You can save your work via “File” > “Save” to ensure all changes are retained.
Why is the height of the buildings not to scale?Since we are not physically rendering, the dimensions do not matter; you can adjust the size according to your design ideas.
How do I maintain symmetry while modeling?By aligning the disc on the x-axis, you can ensure symmetry during the modeling process.
What are the advantages of using extrusion?Extrusion allows you to pull flat polygons into the 3D space, giving your model volume and structure.
How can I ensure that I am only editing the desired polygons?Using the Live Selection tool allows you to select only the desired areas and ignore other parts.
