The Great Buildings On-Line website contains thousands of photos and 3-D models of architecture from prehistoric times to the present.

 

All downloads are free. You have the option of buying downloads and CD's.  DON'T DO THIS...YOU DON'T NEED TO BUY ANYTHING!  Ironically, the free stuff is better than the purchsed stuff.

 

Play around with this site.  Look at the different indices for accessing models by name, architect.  Also be sure to find the geographical and time-line indices.  Also look at one or two specific sites, e.g., Stonehenge.

 

In order to access the 3-D models, you must download and install a program called Design Workshop Lite.  This is not easy to do because it doesn't allow you to automatically install it after the download.  So here's what to do:

 

1.) Access www.greatbuildings.com

 

2.) Find the yellow horizontal bar at the bottom of the page and double click "free 3D)

 

3.) Click "download free 3 CD software"

 

4.) Enter info (use your initials and school name and phone 201 646 7900 if you want to remain anonymous).  Then at the bottom of the page, click "windows." (MAC users - sorry - you're on your own.)

 

5.) Click "setup 1 - download Designer Workshop Lite for Windows"

 

6.) Click "save"

 

7.) When download is complete, click "run"

 

8.) Click "unzip"

 

9.) Click "OK" and "close"

 

10.) Click the "X" on the upper right corner of your screen to exit the webpage.

 

Now that's you've downloaded Design Workshop Lite, you must MANUALLY install it.

 

11.) Click "my computer" and "local disk C."

 

12.) Find and click "Design Workshop Lite Installer," then find and click "setup launcher," and follow directions from there.

 

You should now be ready to use www.greatbuildings.com.

 

13.) Go to the website and select a 3D spacial model.  I suggest you start with Stonehenge - one of our first architectural topics.

 

14.) Under Stonehenge, find and click on "3D model detailed," then "Windows download - detailed"

 

15.) Open the model by clicking on "Stonehenge" and then  "open"

 

IF THE MODEL DOES NOT OPEN, IT'S BECAUSE YOUR COMPUTER IS SEARCHING FOR THE PROGRAM FOR OPENING IT. 

 

16.) You'll see a list of "how to open" programs on your screen.  Click on the "browse" icon ands then find and click on "Design Workshop Lite."

 

FROM THIS POINT ON, ALL MODELS SHOULD OPEN AUTOMATICALLY.

 

You're probably better with computers than I am...please let me know if you can find an easier way to do this.