What are the principal advantages of using a single building information model of the existing conditions as the foundation for modeling proposed additions or renovations?
A single building information model presents the designer’s proposed renovations within the context of the existing conditions, ensuring that the new design fits into the old. This also allows clients and contractors to view the different phases of the construction process according to their needs. For instance, the contractors can see the walls and boundaries that must be demolished before new elements are put in place. A single model that holds all of this information provides an efficient and compact perspective on the lifespan of a renovated building.
In your project, which features of the proposed design did you choose to model as design alternatives?
I chose to alter two external facets of my proposed design. For my first design alternative, I removed the external staircase leading from the ground level to the second floor. The internal staircase on the adjacent wall still provides access to the second floor study room, but the second floor platform now serves as a balcony rather than a main entrance. For my second design alternative, I removed the covered walkway that frames the perimeter of the structure. This option emphasizes the clean and modern style of the extension, a statement that juxtaposes the classical archways of the original building.