Extrude primitives in Forma

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Autodesk Forma helps planning and design teams deliver projects digitally.

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The powerful 3D Sketch mode in Forma lets you create and modify complex shapes,

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so you can design objects such as cantilevered buildings featuring various unique angles.

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After launching a project with ordered data in the 3D Sketch environment,

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start with a Primitive design shape for this exercise.

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To access your primitive shape options, click Primitives from the Design Toolbar in the upper right of the canvas,

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which includes cubes, pyramids, roofs, cylinders, and domes.

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Click the Cube, or use the ALT+B keyboard shortcut, and then drag it to your canvas.

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It’s important to remember that all primitives are watertight with no geometry issues.

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Initially, by default, the cube aligns with the world north.

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However, you have the option to modify this alignment.

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To do this, navigate to the Set Axes option in the Guides and Measurements menu.

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Given this modification will have an impact on the alignment of every structure created at future stages,

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be sure to set the axis widget based on the most suitable angle for the project.

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For this site, use the axis of the surrounding building,

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so that your cube aligns with the axes of the buildings in the vicinity.

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Additionally, you can group this cube by right-clicking it.

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Grouping lets you manipulate that particular geometry without affecting the rest of the design.

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The cube becomes a container with its own local access, initially aligned with the world axis.

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However, you can always adjust this alignment by selecting the Set Local Axes option in the same Guides and Measurements menu.

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Next, extend this primitive cube by selecting a face, and then, from the toolbar, click Extrude Face.

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Repeat the extrusion to create a rectangular prism. In this example, a triangular site is used.

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From the toolbar, select Move.

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Back in the canvas, click and drag different edges of the primitive inwards to create an angular shape.

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Note that, in this instance, the site is positioned on a slope,

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so you can also extrude the bottom face to ensure that it meets the ground at both ends.

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Extruding primitives in Forma is an intuitive process to create basic building blocks for your conceptual designs.