Site to BIM: Modelling and Exporting from Forma to Finch

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to export your Forma buildings and context as seperate variants to Finch.

From Site to BIM – Forma + Finch Masterplanning

1. Create your masterplan project in Finch

• In the Finch web app, go to the Projects page and click Create New.

• Name your project (e.g., “Forma to Finch Masterplan”) and click OK.

---

2. In Forma – prepare buildings and context

• Prepare your site in Forma, complete with terrain and context (neighboring buildings, roads, trees).

• Model your buildings using different tools:

  • Line Building (disable “sections” to avoid splitting into multiple masses)

  • Basic Building tool (good for extrusions and push–pull edits)

  • 3D Sketch tool (for more sculptural or curved geometry)

• Now your model includes 3 buildings + contextual data, ready for export.

---

3. Set up variants in Finch

• Return to the Finch web app. In your new project, create three variants, one for each building (A, B, C), plus a fourth for Context.

• This setup will allow you to upload each building separately and keep context distinct.

---

4. Upload your context variant from Forma

• In Forma, open the Finch extension (install it under Extensions if needed).

• Select your Finch project and choose the Context variant.

• Enable Manual Geometry Selection. Choose only context elements (terrain, surrounding buildings, vegetation).

• Click Export to Finch.

• In Finch, open the Context variant to confirm context geometry has imported properly.

---

5. Upload building variants from Forma

• In Forma, select the Building A variant in the Finch extension.

• Click Manual Geometry Selection, then click the roof/top surface of Building A (selecting the side will not work).

• Click Export to Finch. Repeat this process for Buildings B and C, assigning each to their corresponding variant.

---