Why is it important to accurately model the land features of your project site with a toposurface?
It is important to accurately model the land features of my project because land features directly impact how the building is oriented and how you create the levels. It’s good practice to resemble the land because it will affect how the building interacts with the sun and that affects the windows of your building.
When designing a project...
It should be a balance between the building adapting to the terrain and the terrain adapting to the building. Depending on the terrain, the building may need to have specific materials or support systems. The building may also need to be slanted which requires a different layout of the support system. Alternatively, designers can plan for contractors to adapt the terrain through excavation and compaction to make it easier to the building to stand up straight.
What considerations affect a project team's decision-making when deciding the floor-to-floor height to use in a multi-story building?
From a real estate developer's perspective, they might advocate for taller ceilings to increase interest in the home and to make it feel more spacious while keeping the same square footage. From a designer's perspective, they might consider the client’s emotions and how it affects window styles. From an engineer's perspective, they might consider the supports in the foundation that it would require to have shorter/taller ratios. They may also consider insulation needs and how this overall affects the heating/cooling systems for the house. From a builder's perspective, they would consider the extra materials that a taller ratio would require and the feasibility. From an owner's perspective, they would consider how the floor-to-floor ratio makes them feel about their home as they move around it. They may also want certain ratios for specific decorations like portraits or art.