Creating Hardscape Objects

A hardscape object consists of paved areas with joint patterns and optional borders. A boundary hardscape or pathway hardscape can be created. To draw a hardscape object, either use the Hardscape tool, or create a polyline and then select the Create Objects from Shapes command (see Creating Objects from Shapes). The hardscape object can modify the site model.

The following modes are available.

To create a hardscape object:

1. Click the tool and mode.

2. Do one of the following:

●        To use an existing hardscape from the resource libraries, click Hardscape on the Tool bar. From the Resource Selector, double-click a resource to activate it.

●        To create a custom hardscape, click Preferences. From the Hardscape Object Settings dialog box, set the default properties. The properties can be edited from the Object Info palette.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Definition
Name	Enter a name for the hardscape object, which displays as the ID in the ID tag
Tag Display	Select whether to display the hardscape tag to the right or left of the leader line, without a leader line (floating), or not at all
Tag Style	Select the ID tag display style. ●        Select Name Only to display the name of the hardscape object only (as defined in the Name field) ●        Select Name-Area to display the hardscape object name, area and, if applicable, the area of the border ●        Select Name-Area-Perim to display the hardscape object name, perimeter length and, if applicable, the area of the border.
Tag Class	To control appearance and visibility, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Hardscape Class> to place the tag in the same class as the hardscape object.
Slope Arrow Class	To control appearance and visibility, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Hardscape Class> to place the tag in the same class as the hardscape object.
Display Tag Line Marker	Displays a marker at the end of the leader line; specify the marker style by editing the hardscape tag class (see Setting Class Properties)
Snap Tag to Hardscape Edge	Select this option to automatically align the endpoint of the tag with the edge or corner of the hardscape that is nearest to the shoulder point of the tag
Joint Pattern	Select the main hardscape joint pattern; see Specifying Hardscape Joint Patterns
Main Area Class	To control appearance and visibility, select a class for the joint pattern from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class
Configuration	Sets the boundary and pathway parameters for the hardscape object
Boundary/Pathway	Boundary defines the hardscape object with a user-defined polyline as the outer edge of the hardscape object (for example, to define regular or irregular patio areas), while Pathway defines the hardscape object with a user-defined polyline as an alignment for a linear path
Width	Width of the pathway hardscape object
Offset	Sets the offset of the pathway centerline from the placement line
Draw Border	Select to include a border pattern along the edges of the hardscape object
Width	Enter the width of the border
Joint Pattern	Select the border joint pattern. For more information, see Specifying a Hatch, Stipple, or Tile Joint Pattern and Specifying a Spaced Joint Pattern.
Background Color	Click the color box to select the desired border color
Border Class	To control appearance and visibility, select a class for the border joint pattern from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class
Pathway Borders	Select the border configuration for pathway hardscape objects with borders
Draw 3D	Specify 3D hardscape object parameters. The hardscape object can modify an existing site model. See Site Model Modification Overview.
3D Type	Select the 3D hardscape format. ●        None displays a schematic view of the hardscape in 3D views. ●        Slab creates a slab object for the main hardscape and another slab for the border if one is specified. ●        Pad Modifier (Top/Bottom of Slab) uses a slab as a site model pad modifier. Select this type if the hardscape covers a flat part of the site; see Creating a Pad or Pad with Retaining Edge. ●        Texture Bed Modifier uses the hardscape as a site model texture bed modifier. Select this type to change the texture on part of the site; see Creating a Texture Bed. ●        Slab Drainage creates a slab for the main hardscape to support a drainage system; see Creating Slab Drainage Systems. If a border is specified, another slab is created, but drainage elements are not applied to it. When Slab Drainage is selected, the entire hardscape cannot be set to slope. However, the Slab Drainage tool can modify the main hardscape, adding slopes and ridges to the main slab geometry.
Thickness	For a slab 3D Type, enter the main slab thickness
Border Thickness	For a slab 3D Type, enter the border slab thickness
Main Texture	Select the texture resource for the hardscape object or assign it by class; the displayed textures are from a library or the current file. The texture origin and rotation are automatically set to match the 2D fill origin and rotation for the main texture area.
Border Texture	Select the texture resource for the border object or assign it by class; the displayed textures are from a library or the current file. The texture origin and rotation are automatically set to match the 2D fill origin and rotation for the border.

The Stipple joint patterns are a processor-intensive action for large hardscape objects and can significantly increase regeneration time.

When drawing a hardscape object with a curved boundary, speed the regeneration time by setting the 2D conversion resolution in Vectorworks preferences to low (see Vectorworks Preferences: Edit Tab).

3. Click the appropriate mode in the Tool bar to specify the creation method of the hardscape object. Select whether to create a boundary or pathway hardscape object.

The hardscape configuration can also be changed after creation from either the Hardscape Object Settings dialog box or the hardscape context menu commands (see Converting the Hardscape Object to a Boundary or Pathway Configuration).

4. Click to set the hardscape object’s start point.

5. Click to set the end of the segment and the beginning of the next. Continue drawing segments in this manner until the hardscape object is complete. Return to the start point (for boundary configurations), or simply double-click (for either pathway or boundary configurations) to finish creating the hardscape object.

6. When classing the subcomponents of the hardscape object, such as the joints or tags, the class visibility of the specified class controls the visibility of the corresponding subcomponent. The class attributes are only applied to the corresponding subcomponent when the Use at Creation option is selected for the class. For example, if the Joint Class is set to the Site-Hardscape Comp-Main Joint class, and that class specifies a hatch Fill Style, edit the class and select the Use at Creation option to apply the fill attribute.

7. If the hardscape 3D Type is set to Pad Modifier or Texture Bed Modifier, update the site model to apply the modification. Select the site model and click Update from the Object Info palette.

8. If the hardscape is set to slope, specify the slope properties in the Object Info palette, and/or adjust slope indicator control points and reshape the corners in a 3D view (see Editing the Hardscape Object Settings).

To edit the hardscape object path in object editing mode, select the hardscape and select Modify > Edit Hardscape.

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Editing the Hardscape Object Settings

Concept: Hardscape Fills and Joint Patterns

Specifying Hardscape Joint Patterns

Editing Hardscape Fills and Joint Patterns

Applying Colors

Updating a Site Model

Setting Class Attributes

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