Site to BIM: Create a Variant Bundle – Masterplanning in Finch

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

Create a Variant Bundle – Masterplanning in Finch

1. Prepare your variants

  • Upload your building variants from Forma (e.g., Building A, B, C) as well as a Context variant into your Finch project.

  • Open each variant and assign programs (e.g., Residential, Office, Retail) so that metrics are correctly calculated.

2. Create a new bundle

  • Go to your Project Page in Finch.

  • Scroll down to the Bundles section.

  • Click New Bundle and name it (e.g., “Masterplanning Test”).

  • Finch will automatically open your new bundle.

3. Add variants to your bundle

  • When the bundle opens, you will initially see an empty scene.

  • Navigate to the Data tab on the right-hand side.

  • Select the variants you want to include:

    • Context

    • Building A

    • Building B

    • Building C

  • Each selected variant will appear in the scene, building up your full masterplan.

4. Collaborate across variants

  • Bundles allow teams to work on separate variants simultaneously.

    • For example, different team members can edit Building A, B, or C independently.

    • At the same time, another team member can stay inside the bundle view and monitor metrics as they update in real time.

5. Review live metrics

  • Within the bundle view, navigate to the Key Figures or Data Drawers.

  • Review aggregated project data, such as:

    • Program split (e.g., 84% Residential, 13% Office, 4% Retail)

    • Unit mix

    • Usable and gross floor area breakdowns

  • If you need to adjust proportions, simply double-click a building in the bundle to open its variant.

  • Make edits (e.g., add another floor of retail), then return to the bundle.

  • Metrics update automatically in real time.

6. Work at masterplan scale

  • Using bundles, you can:

    • Combine multiple buildings with shared context.

    • Track program distribution across the full site.

    • Enable team collaboration with live updates.

That’s it! You’ve created a variant bundle and learned how to manage your project at masterplan scale.

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