Free & Open-Source Architecture & Interior Tools
Everything a studio demands from Semester 1 to the thesis jury — whiteboards, CAD drafting, 3D BIM, rendering, portfolio tools. ₹0 to start.
Foundation — Concepting, Diagramming & Site Analysis
In the first year, students focus on spatial relationships, site context, bubble diagrams, and rapid ideation before touching heavy CAD.
Excalidraw
Draw bubble diagrams, concept maps, and site-analysis sketches in your browser
Draw.io (Diagrams.net)
Create space-adjacency diagrams, flowcharts, and architectural programs
Leaflet.js + OpenStreetMap
A mapping library for students developing their own interactive site-analysis tools
Inkscape
Vector site plans, line diagrams, schematics
Krita
Freehand digital sketching and concept art
GIMP
Raster edits, mood boards, texture fixing
MyPaint
Distraction-free painting for loose sketches
Photopea
Web Photoshop alternative for sheet comps
LibreCAD
2D drafting — AutoCAD alternative for students
QCAD
2D CAD with a clean drafting workflow
FreeCAD
Parametric 3D CAD with an architectural workbench
2D Technical Drafting & Floor Planning
As students move into technical drawing, they need accurate, dimensioned drafting environments and space planning tools.
Chili3D
Browser-based 2D/3D CAD app powered by OpenCascade WebAssembly for technical floor plans and elevations
Sweet Home 3D (HTML5 Port)
HTML5 Canvas browser-based interior space planning, furniture layouts, and 3D room walks
QGIS
Contours, landuse, zones, watershed — full site analysis GIS
Google Earth
Flythroughs and urban context for site studies
SunCalc
Sun path and shade studies for any site
SketchUp Free
Quick massing and early volume studies
3D Modeling & OpenBIM Studio
Students begin transitioning from simple extrusions to parametric spaces, moving walls, and Building Information Modeling (BIM).
Pascal Editor
Free 3D building editor for generating parametric 3D spaces, moving walls, and testing interior layouts
That Open Company (formerly IFC.js)
Open-source JavaScript toolkit parsing and rendering .ifc architectural BIM models in browser via Three.js
Blender + Cycles
3D modelling, photoreal rendering, animation
LuxCoreRender
Physically-based renderer for realistic light
Bonsai (BlenderBIM)
IFC/BIM authoring inside Blender
EnergyPlus + OpenStudio
Energy simulation for climate-responsive design
Climate Consultant
Climate analysis graphics for passive design
OpenSCAD
Code-based parametric modelling
Final Renders, Portfolios & Presentations
In their final year, the focus shifts to post-processing, high-fidelity collaboration, and digital portfolio presentation.
Speckle ("Git for AEC")
Share interactive 3D models from Rhino, SketchUp, or Blender with your team
Google <model-viewer>
A developer tool for displaying GLB models and mobile AR on a portfolio website
miniPaint
Edit render images and presentation boards in your browser
Scribus
Thesis book and portfolio sheet layout
Overleaf (LaTeX)
Typeset the thesis document cleanly
Zotero
References, citations and reading lists
LibreOffice
Documents, spreadsheets and reports
DaVinci Resolve
Video and animatics for the final presentation
Shotcut
Simple open-source video editing
OBS Studio
Screen recordings — rehearse the jury pitch
Penpot
Portfolio site and presentation design
Three.js
Custom 3D web presentations
Docs, model making & collaboration
The quiet workhorses that carry every studio.
Cura
3D-print slicer for physical site models
PrusaSlicer
Precise slicing for model making
Meshroom
Photogrammetry — 3D scans from phone photos
Obsidian
Notes and thesis research graph
Nextcloud
Self-hosted file sharing for heavy model files
OpenProject
Studio project management
Stuck on the brief, not the software?
Use these tools with real architectural references. Browse packages with site analysis, CAD drawings and renders from students who already finished the jury.
Browse Free Resources