Module 3 - Points to Ponder

Why is it important to accurately model the land features of your project site with a toposurface?

• What aspects of a building design are most affected by the terrain features?

The materials we use vary based on what they are in contact with, and if a part of a building is underground it requires special attention in order to properly pick materials that will hold back the earth and resist moisture as well as react favorably to the unique temperatures it will be submerged in.

When designing a project...

• Should the building adapt to the terrain?
• Or, should you adapt the terrain to the building?
• It is best to use the terrain to our advantage and adapt to its unique features. In some cases, however, it is necessary to mold the terrain to provide the proper conditions to build.

Describe a case when it would be worthwhile to create a new custom component in Revit… How do you decide when customize versus using readily available components?

If the project requires a very specific component that is not typically applicable to other projects, it is best to make a custom component to create the particular shape, to fit properly, to better match materials, etc. You can also evaluate the time it might take to do one versus the other. If a rough placeholder is sufficient for the design stage at hand, it might not be worth it to go hunting for detailed components.