What are the principal advantages of creating a conceptual design model using masses before diving into the detailed design and building element modeling?
Creating a conceptual design model using masses allows designers to explore and visualize the overall form before getting too deep into the building’s components. This approach helps in quickly assessing the feasibility of different design options, optimizing the building's spacial relationships, and it can help inform broad energy site analyses. It cost-effectively also facilitates early discussions with stakeholders, enabling feedback before committing to detailed design work. This broader visualization of the building enables designers to make informed decisions that drive project success while saving time and money.
Should all buildings be modeled first using conceptual masses?
When is it needed/appropriate? And when not?
For example, should you create a conceptual mass model of a small house?
No! Not all buildings need to first be modeled using conceptual masses. This approach is primarily beneficial for large, complex projects where it is essential to understand the building’s overall shape and spatial relationships.
Skyscrapers and large urban planning projects would likely benefit from conceptual mass modeling, for variations in floor space and sunlight orientation can easily be captured at the large scale. However, this conceptual mass might be redundant for smaller projects like a house, where detailed modeling would be an ideal first step because there aren’t as many components to parameterize.
Can you think of any examples of a real building around the world that most likely was created by exploring the form using conceptual mass models?
Please post and share images of these examples to this Notion page.
How would you abstract the essential form of these famous buildings using conceptual mass elements that you can create in Revit?
- One World Trade Center: https://www.archdaily.com/795277/one-world-trade-center-som
- CMG Headquarters: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMG_Headquarters#/media/File:China_Central_Television_Headquarters_2.jpg
- Twisting torso: https://www.archdaily.com/771471/santiago-calatravas-turning-torso-wins-ctbuhs-10-year-award
- Apple campus: https://www.archdaily.com/804970/apple-campus-2-held-to-fantastical-standard-of-detail-new-report-reveals
- Salesforce tower: https://www.archdaily.com/889519/salesforce-tower-pelli-clarke-pelli-architects