How to Create a Curved Curtain Wall in Revit: A Complete Beginner-Friendly Guide

AI for Architecture | Architecture | Interior | Revit | Space design

Why a Curved Curtain Wall in Revit Matters in Modern Design

Glass facades are everywhere today. From sleek airports to luxury hotels, curtain walls are the face of modern architecture. But rarely are they flat. Architects use curves to soften forms, create futuristic looks, and make their designs stand out.

Clients often demand it too. A curved curtain wall in Revit doesn’t just make your model accurate—it helps you visualize how a real project would look and behave. In presentations, a sweeping glass wall can impress clients and give your design an edge.

The challenge is that curtain walls in Revit are parametric. Panels want to stay rectangular, and mullions want to stay straight. So, you need a few clever tricks to make everything follow the curve.

Step 1: Start with a Curved Curtain Wall in Revit

Let’s begin with the base wall.

Go to the Architecture Tab → Wall → Wall: Architectural.
In the properties palette, choose Curtain Wall: Storefront.
Under the Modify Tab → Draw Panel, use the Arc tool to draw the wall.

Now you’ll see a curved curtain wall in Revit on your plan. The panels will follow the arc, but the mullions won’t look right yet. Think of this step as sketching the skeleton before adding detail.

Step 2: Create a Custom Glass Panel Wall Type for Your Curved Curtain Wall

The default panels in Revit are useful, but limited. To make your curved facade work better, you need a custom glass panel.

Start by selecting Wall: Architectural again.
Choose Basic Wall in the properties palette.
Draw a straight wall using the Line tool.
Click Edit Type → Duplicate, and rename it Glass Panel wall.
Under Structure → Edit Assembly, set thickness to 20mm and assign the material as Glass.

After saving, select your curved curtain wall. In the properties, change the curtain panel to your new Glass Panel wall. The panels now follow the curve correctly, though the mullions are still off.

Step 3: Add a Wall Sweep to Fix Mullions in a Curved Curtain Wall in Revit

Mullions are the tricky part. By default, they don’t curve with the wall. But you can fix that with sweeps.

Select the curtain wall panel.
In the properties palette, click Edit Type.
Under Structure → Edit, open the section view.
Add a Sweep to the wall.

The sweep will follow the curve, but it looks oversized. Don’t worry—we’ll refine it next. This step ensures the mullions follow the curve instead of staying straight.

Step 4: Create a Custom Mullion Sweep Profile

To make mullions realistic, create a profile that matches real dimensions.

In the Project Browser, open Families → Profile → Profile_Reveal_Brick_Course.
Right-click and choose Edit.
Turn on dimensions via VG (Visibility Graphics) → Annotation Categories → Dimensions.

Create a new family type called Mullion Sweep Type.

Set size to 150x150x50mm.
Since the wall thickness is 20mm, set insertion to 75mm.
Change usage to Wall Sweep.

Save it as Wall Sweep Mullion Profile and load it into your project.

Then, edit your glass wall, apply the profile, set the material to Aluminium, and offset it by -10mm.

Now your mullions align beautifully with the curved panels.

Step 5: Create a Top Glass Panel Variation for Your Curved Curtain Wall in Revit

Sometimes you need a different detail at the top of the wall. You can duplicate the panel type for that.

Use Tab to select one panel.
Right-click → Select Panel → Along Horizontal Panel.

Duplicate the glass panel wall and name it Glass Panel wall – Top.
Edit the structure and add a sweep.
Position it from the Top.

This lets you add custom detailing where needed without affecting all panels.

Common Mistakes When Modeling a Curved Curtain Wall in Revit

Here are a few problems beginners face:

Oversized mullions: Happens when you don’t edit the sweep profile. Always check dimensions.
Misaligned mullions: Fix this by adjusting the offset, often around -10mm.
Editing default wall types: Always duplicate before changing. Otherwise, you break other parts of the model.
Jagged panels: Usually caused by leaving the default curtain wall panels. Always create a custom Glass Panel wall.

Why Model a Curved Curtain Wall in Revit Instead of Using Workarounds

Some designers import curved facades from Rhino or use massing forms. While possible, this breaks the BIM workflow. You can’t schedule panels, track materials, or export for energy analysis properly.

Using a curved curtain wall in Revit keeps everything parametric. Your panels are measurable, your mullions align in sections, and your model stays clean. This makes it not just good for rendering, but also reliable for construction and analysis.

Pro Tips for Clean Modeling

Use clear material names like Glass – Tinted instead of just Glass.
Keep mullion profiles simple to avoid slowing down your file.
Always check your work in section views.
Save custom wall types with descriptive names so they’re easy to reuse.

FAQs About Curved Curtain Walls in Revit

Can I make a double-curved curtain wall in Revit?
Not natively. Double-curved facades work better in massing tools or Rhino.

Do mullions always need sweeps?
Not always. For straight walls, defaults are fine. But for a curved curtain wall in Revit, sweeps give cleaner results.

Does this method improve rendering?
Yes. The glass and mullions look more realistic and accurate.

Can I still schedule panels?
Absolutely. Because this method uses Revit wall types and families, you keep full scheduling functionality.

Final Thoughts

Modeling a curved curtain wall in Revit may feel intimidating at first. The default tools resist curves, and the mullions can look wrong. But once you understand the logic—panels plus sweeps—it becomes manageable.

The best part is that you’re not just faking a design. You’re creating a true BIM-ready element that works in drawings, schedules, and renderings. That’s the difference between a quick workaround and a professional Revit workflow.

So next time you face a curved glass facade, don’t panic. Follow these steps, and you’ll be able to deliver a clean, accurate, and impressive model. The more you practice, the faster it becomes—and soon, curved walls will feel as easy as straight ones.