In Revit, you typically rotate a specific view rather than rotating the entire "model space" in the way you might in some other software. This allows you to change the orientation of plan views, elevations, sections, or detail views for presentation on sheets or easier on-screen work.
Rotating a View Using the Crop Boundary
Based on the provided reference, one common method to rotate a view involves using its crop boundary.
Here's how you can rotate a view in Revit:
- Select the View: Open the view you want to rotate (e.g., a Floor Plan).
- Show the Crop Region: Ensure the Crop Region is visible. You can usually toggle this on or off in the View Properties palette or using a button on the View Control Bar.
- Select the Crop Boundary: Click on the boundary lines of the Crop Region.
- Activate the Rotate Tool: Once the crop boundary is selected, you can access the Rotate tool. As the reference notes, "when you select that crop. View you can go to rotate. You get your basic rotate tool..."
- Rotate the View: Use the Rotate tool to turn the view to your desired angle. You can click to define the center of rotation, specify a start point, and then specify an endpoint, or you can enter a numerical value for the rotation angle. The reference mentions rotating "...by the value of 90 degrees. As. You can see now it's horizontal."
By rotating the view this way, you are changing how the model geometry is displayed within that specific view window. The underlying 3D model and its coordinates remain unchanged relative to the project origin.
Why "Rotate Model Space" Isn't Standard Revit Terminology
Revit is built around a project coordinate system (Project Base Point and Survey Point). The model geometry is fixed relative to these points. Instead of rotating the entire 3D world or model space, you manipulate:
- Views: Change the camera angle, orientation, and visible extents.
- Project North/True North: Rotate the entire model relative to the site orientation (affecting plan view display, but not the 3D geometry's internal coordinates).
- Individual Elements: Move or rotate specific building components.
Rotating a view using the crop boundary, as described above and hinted at in the reference, is the most direct way to achieve a rotated display of the model geometry within a single view.
Other Rotation Options (Briefly)
While not "rotating model space," here are other ways rotation applies in Revit:
- Rotating Project North or True North: Use the "Rotate Project North" or "Rotate True North" tool (Manage tab > Project Location panel > Position). This changes the orientation of the building relative to the site.
- Rotating Elements: Select individual elements (walls, furniture, etc.) and use the Rotate tool to change their position or orientation within the model.
In summary, while Revit doesn't have a "rotate model space" command, you can effectively rotate the display of your model in a specific view using the view's crop boundary and the standard Rotate tool, as demonstrated by the process involving selecting the crop view and rotating it by a value like 90 degrees.
