Module 6 - Points to Ponder

Creating a conceptual design model using masses is advantageous for multiple reasons. If you’re designing a repetitive structure, you can easily combine masses as building blocks, which is much more efficient than repeating more detailed designs. Also, conceptual masses allow for mass flooring, which is a highly efficient way to draft numerous floors within a building rather than designing each individually. A model using masses is also highly advantageous if modeling a structure with complex geometry, as modeling each level individually with detailed designs and then combining them into a harmonious whole is much harder. Mass floor creation is automatic, by contrast, regardless of how complex the mass’ shape is.

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 should be modeled first using conceptual masses. Masses are most useful or very large, and or repetitive structures where detailed modeling may follow later or not be required at the current project stage. This makes masses useful for modeling office buildings, but generally inappropriate for small structures like houses, where it is more expedient to assemble design elements directly rather than sculpting an appropriately shaped mass and then converting its faces to elements.

Please post and share images of these examples to this Notion page.