What are the principal advantages of creating a conceptual design model using masses before diving into the detailed design and building element modeling?
It is a lot easier and it helps to create an overall design for a building before creating the small details. It allows us to create a more general idea of the building, which we can then elaborate on later. This also allows us to see how the overall building clashes with the surroundings and we can decide if it looks good or not, meaning we can eliminate external design flaws. This form of modeling allows us to easily create a design that fits in well with the environment, while also making it easy for us to make design choices.
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?
Not all buildings should be modeled first using conceptual masses. In larger scale projects conceptual massing can be very valuable because it allows us to show how the building will look in its environment, while also allowing us the ability to change the design. I believe conceptual massing is very valuable in these larger scale projects. I believe it is less useful in smaller projects. This is because they are more detail oriented and therefore a large scale conceptual massing wouldn’t be as useful. If you need to focus on the details, detailed modeling will be more efficient and will allow for greater manipulation of the specific necessary details. Therefore by this logic I don’t believe you should create a conceptual mass model of a small house.
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