How to Add a Bench Top

Use the CI Bench Top object to add a bench top to cabinets.

Add a Bench Top

To add a bench top:

1. Double-click on the Cabinet tool in the ARCHICAD toolbox, and choose the CI Bench Top object.
   
2. On the Configuration page, set basic options:

   

   • Base height – this should match the cabinet top height.
   • Nosing Profile
   • A – E Dimensions for bench thickness, upstand and waterfall edges.
   • From the Graphic Editing options, choose Shape.
3. Place the Ci Bench Top object onto the cabinets.

The default shape is a simple rectangle. The next step is to edit the shape to match the cabinets.

Edit the Shape

Because you chose the Shape option for Graphic Editing in step 2d above, the editing palette is already showing the options for editing the shape of the bench top.

To match the example L-shaped cabinetry:

1. Use the shape edit mode slider to select the Offset Edge

   

2. Offset the right end to extend it over the corner cabinet.

   

3. Use the shape edit mode slider to select the Move Vertex

   

4. Move the midpoint of the front edge to form a new vertex at the inside corner.

   

5. Use the shape edit mode slider to select the Offset Edge mode again (as in step 1).
6. Offset the right-hand edge to the end of the second leg.

   

7. If you want to add an overhang to the ends and front, use the offset mode to extend these edges.

   

8. Move the main edit mode slider to the X position to hide the palette.

   

   

 Change the Edge Types

To add a splashback to the second leg:

1. Set the main slider mode to Edge Types.

   

2. Pull the Splashback dropper hotspot onto the back edge of the second leg.

   

   When you drop the hotspot on the edge, it will become a splashback.

3. Move the main slider to the X position to hide the edit palette.

   

   

Plan View Symbol

Note that in the plan view, the bench top is drawn as a dashed outline, while the cabinets below are shown as though cut through. The representation of the bench top and cabinets for any given plan view, is controlled by the Cutting Plane Height (see How to Define a Plan View > Cutting Plane Height).

If you change the cutting plane height so that it sits above the bench top, the plan view representation changes. Now the bench top is drawn as a projection, with the cabinets shown as dashed lines below.