What Is Rhino.Inside Revit?
Rhino.Inside Revit (RIR) is a free technology developed by Robert McNeel & Associates that runs Rhino 3D and Grasshopper directly inside Autodesk Revit. Rather than switching between applications or exporting files, you get the full power of Rhino's geometry engine and Grasshopper's parametric tools available as a panel within the Revit interface.
For UK firms that need to deliver in Revit but want to design in Rhino, it's a significant workflow improvement.
Why It Matters for UK Practices
Many UK architecture and engineering practices face the same challenge: Rhino is the preferred design tool, but Revit is required for BIM delivery on larger projects. Historically this meant rebuilding geometry — modelling in Rhino, then recreating the same forms in Revit for documentation and coordination. Rhino.Inside Revit eliminates most of that duplication.
What You Can Do With Rhino.Inside Revit
Push Complex Geometry into Revit
Freeform surfaces, parametric facades, and complex structural geometry modelled in Rhino can be pushed directly into Revit as native elements. This is particularly valuable for curved roofs, non-orthogonal structures, and bespoke facade systems that Revit struggles to model natively.
Drive Revit with Grasshopper
Grasshopper scripts can create, modify, and query Revit elements directly. This enables parametric control of Revit models — generating floor plates, structural grids, facade panels, and room layouts from Grasshopper definitions. Changes to the Grasshopper script update the Revit model automatically.
Extract Data from Revit into Grasshopper
RIR works in both directions. You can query Revit elements from Grasshopper — reading room areas, structural member sizes, or facade panel counts — and use that data to drive analysis, optimisation, or documentation workflows.
Coordinate Across Both Environments
Design teams can work in Rhino and Grasshopper while the Revit model stays current. This is particularly useful on projects where the design is still evolving — the Revit model updates as Grasshopper definitions change, rather than requiring manual rebuilding.
Typical UK Firm Workflow
- Concept design in Rhino — freeform modelling, massing, and early-stage geometry
- Parametric development in Grasshopper — facade optimisation, structural coordination, environmental analysis
- Push to Revit via RIR — geometry becomes native Revit elements with BIM data attached
- Documentation in Revit — drawings, schedules, and coordination models produced from the Revit model
- IFC export from Revit — for contractor coordination and federated model submission
What You Need to Get Started
- A licensed copy of Rhino 3D V8 (Grasshopper is included free)
- A licensed copy of Autodesk Revit (any recent version)
- The Rhino.Inside Revit plugin — free to download from the McNeel website
CadWax supplies the Rhino licence. If you're setting up a new workstation for a RIR workflow, the RhinoARQ bundle — which includes Rhino and VisualARQ — gives you additional BIM capability alongside the RIR workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rhino.Inside Revit free?
Yes. The RIR plugin is free to download from McNeel. You need valid licences for both Rhino and Revit to use it.
Which versions of Revit does RIR support?
RIR supports recent versions of Revit. Check the McNeel RIR documentation for the current compatibility matrix, as support is updated with each release.
Does Rhino.Inside Revit work on Mac?
No. Revit is Windows only, so RIR is Windows only by extension.
Can RIR replace VisualARQ?
They serve different purposes. VisualARQ adds BIM objects to Rhino for practices that want to stay in Rhino for documentation. RIR bridges Rhino into Revit for practices that need to deliver in Revit. Many firms use both.
Is Grasshopper knowledge required to use RIR?
For basic geometry transfer, no. For driving Revit parametrically from Grasshopper — which is where RIR becomes most powerful — yes, Grasshopper knowledge is needed.
Bringing Rhino into a Revit workflow?
CADWAX supplies Rhino 3D licences for practices running Rhino.Inside.Revit workflows.
Get in touch if you have questions about licensing for your team.
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