Brazilian architect Fábio Rakauskas tells how he preserves the history of architecture with digital replicas, to connect the community with its history and talk about future renovations.
Vila Baeta Neves stadium building
3D builds the future, but it also reveals the past. Brazilian architect Fábio Rakauskas preserves works of architecture by bringing them into the modern world with digital replicas. This work has already been carried out on 14 historic buildings in his hometown of São Bernardo do Campo. The project aims to preserve the history of the Modernist Architecture Movement of the 1960s, as well as connecting people with their heritage and following the constant evolution of the buildings. In the interview, Fábio shows us how he is redefining history with the projects that are his passion.
Fábio, can you explain what Historical Building Information Modeling (HBIM) is?
Architectural buildings tell the story of cities and their cultural heritage. Maintaining and restoring these structures is fundamental to preserving history, and we do this with HBIM.
While Building Information Modeling (BIM) involves the entire construction life cycle, such as feasibility studies and asset management, HBIM does the opposite. The asset already exists, but usually has little or no documentation and needs to be recreated digitally for retrieval and management.
Retrieving this information requires delicate work to accurately represent the originality of the buildings. The end result is a 3D model with various data, which is a digital replica of the building used for future decisions and renovations.
More details of the Vila Baeta Neves stadium building (swipe right to see more images)
I imagine the HBIM process was quite a challenge. How did your professional career lead you to work on projects in the city of São Bernardo do Campo?
I took part in urban projects at the city hall and was a member of the Historical and Cultural Heritage Council, where I studied the history of urban development in São Bernardo do Campo.
The region has some very important historic buildings from the Modernist Architecture period during the 1960s and 1970s. Many of these structures have been forgotten over time, including works by renowned architects such as Paulo Mendes da Rocha.
Recently, when the municipality launched a public notice to promote culture through the Aldir Blanc Federal Law, I had the opportunity to work on an incredible project: recreating modernist structures from that period with digital replicas.
The project had three main objectives:
Produce an inventory of 14 modernist buildings.
Set up a public exhibition of the digital replicas of the buildings at the Pinacoteca in São Bernardo.
Publish models for future use using a tool like SketchUp's 3D Warehouse.
School building in Vila Brasília (swipe right to see more pictures)
Why did you choose SketchUp to bring the digital replicas of the buildings to life?
I decided to use SketchUp because it offers:
Efficiency: I had a tight schedule to model 14 buildings quickly and alone.
Flexibility: I can iterate without restrictions when modeling with few initial references (some historic buildings didn't even have the original documentation).
Interoperability with CAD files and images: I needed to import various images and .dwg files with horizontal plans, sections, elevations and topographic lines as a reference for the volumetric project.
I got to know SketchUp in one of the architecture offices where I worked. After that, I never stopped using it. SketchUp brings flexibility to projects and is very agile. Other software tries to imitate this agility to remove, create and iterate, but it's not as efficient.
I use SketchUp together with Trimble Connect, to ensure that everyone can view the models on mobile devices, on the desktop or in augmented reality. It communicates the idea of the project in 3D and makes it easy to share the design with the parties involved.
Let's talk more about the project. Tell us a bit more about it.
To digitally recreate 14 buildings, we first had to collect information about the structures. Common methods for collecting this data include laser scanning and photogrammetry, which are excellent options for carrying out this work. However, we didn't have this kind of technology available. Instead, we used existing documentation (old paper drawings or scanned horizontal plans, sections and elevations) and visited the site to collect information on subsequent updates to the building manually.
School building in Vila Brasília
Project stages and challenges faced
I'm going to detail the stages of the project using the most emblematic building of the 14, the Municipal Palace and Civic Center of São Bernardo.
SketchUp model of the Municipal Palace and Civic Center of São Bernardo
Stage 1: data collection and modeling of the original volumetry
It was a challenge to model the building's volumetry: not all the buildings had the original 2D documentation and none had 3D models. Image source: São Bernardo do Campo City Hall, Culture Department, Memory Center, 2020.
I used various resources to be as faithful as possible to the original design during modeling, including Google Maps to get a sense of existing conditions, historical photos and news about the architecture of the period. I imported the municipality's cartographic record into SketchUp and created a mass model of the surroundings.
"I used SketchUp's Photo Adaptation tool to superimpose images on the model and compare whether the geometry created from the original 2D documentation was consistent with the current state of the buildings. This helped me identify later renovations that were not documented."
Stage 2: organizing the model
There are 14 projects in total. It was therefore essential to create a system to keep the work organized and aligned with the same type of structure, etiquette and hierarchy.
For the Paço Municipal building, I started modeling on top of an old .dwg file that had some layers and topographic lines of the existing conditions. I used SketchUp tags to organize the model by area of expertise and floor with information on masonry, structure and brick wall. I followed the layering guidelines of the Brazilian Association of Architecture Offices (AsBEA) to ensure that the model could easily be used as a reference with other information databases.
"I used LayOut to create large A0 sheets with all the details of the buildings. It was the first time I worked with LayOut and it was amazing, especially being able to update the model and see these updates reflected on the software pages."
Stage 3: incorporating the information into the 3D model
All projects in SketchUp have been organized using groups and components with various information.
I have linked various external resources and incorporated important information about the models within the component characteristics, including:
Links to all the original 2D documentation
Information on materials, colors, textures, type of concrete and other construction details
Links to all available documentation on ramps, stairs, sheds and structural elements
Data on the architects and other Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) professionals who worked on each project
Links to images and reports of important moments in the building's history
When viewing projects in Trimble Connect, it is easy to navigate through the links within each object, accessing its history and documentation.
Stage 4: models of completion conditions and surroundings
Over the years, the Paço Municipal building has undergone several renovations: a mandatory fire evacuation tower was built, some annexes were created while others were demolished, and the original landscape design was transformed into a water mirror.
The initial aim of the project was to portray the buildings in their original state. Even so, I modeled the updates that have occurred over the years. SketchUp's Structure panel categorizes the original model along with the updates, making it easy to compare the initial state with the current one. The final digital replica of the Municipal Palace includes the surrounding area so that we can see the building in its real context.
Stage 5: final exhibition
In the final phase of the project, we held an exhibition at the Pinacoteca in São Bernardo do Campo, combining the real and the digital. (Swipe right to see more images)
The team exported the SketchUp models to a 3D printer and created models of all the buildings. Visitors could scan the QR codes to view the models in augmented reality or use Trimble Connect to access the history and all the original information linked to the models.
During the exhibition, community members were surprised to discover that renowned architects had designed the historic buildings.
How do we see the digital replicas?
At the moment, the projects are available through the virtual exhibition. SketchUp users can also check out the models in the 3D Warehouse.
How can digital replicas influence future building decisions?
Decisions based solely on 2D documentation can de-characterize the original work and have a negative impact on historic preservation. In addition, municipal councils are made up of professionals who may have difficulty visualizing this type of document.
The 3D models are simpler to understand. Now, everyone can access the digital replicas of the 14 historic buildings using Trimble Connect. With a greater understanding of the possibilities and impacts of renovation, the city council can make more informed decisions.
These models need to be updated whenever there is a new change, so that digital replicas of the buildings reflect their current state.
Now that the project has been completed, what's your next big undertaking?
Using SketchUp has always been a passion of mine and I like to pass on that feeling to my classes. I'm developing a course on BIM for architecture students and people who have just graduated. Generally, these people are taught that they should start with 2D and then move on to a 3D perspective. I promote a 3D approach from the outset and SketchUp is perfect for this. Architecture is a visual practice and 3D makes it easier to understand and make informed decisions during the early stages of a project.
Fire station and police station buildings in São Bernardo (swipe right to see more pictures)
Fábio, thank you very much for telling your story! We have a few quick questions for you.
Can you describe SketchUp in just one word?
Flexible.
What can't everyone do without in SketchUp?
Working with groups, components and the overall model hierarchy. The organization and structure of the model are essential for a streamlined workflow.
What advice would you give to other architecture professionals?
Think outside the box and challenge traditional paradigms. Question whether it's necessary to start with floor plans. 3D is fundamental when we need to have a holistic perception.
For professionals entering the job market: focus on working with data and automation. These tools speed up manual tasks and save valuable time.
Are you ready to pursue your passion for 3D design? Become a SketchUp subscriber or try it out with a free trial.
About Fábio Rakauskas
Fábio is a Brazilian architect with a passion for architecture and teaching. Since 2007, he has been working on corporate building projects, urban planning and feasibility studies for residential buildings. With a master's degree in architecture, BIM management and urban planning, he has also worked as an architecture and urban planning teacher. His most recent project is to create a class for students who have just graduated in architecture. Follow Fábio on Instagram.
