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 site with a toposurface because it will help visualizing the actual building in placement. It will give a better idea to the construction team on how to build around the dirt, and it will help the client better visualize their new home in place. This could also help identify specific design challenges before construction begins.
- What aspects of a building design are most affected by the terrain features?
The lowest floor or basement is most affected by the terrain features. It is important to consider how people will navigate the terrain to get to the home and what types of support walls are necessary to keep the dirt at bay. Lastly, windows and other features on the lower levels near the terrain will be greatly effected or obscured by the terrain.
When designing a project...
- Should the building adapt to the terrain?
- Or, should you adapt the terrain to the building?
When designing a project and trying to understand how the building and terrain will interact, it is important that both will be adapted for each other. There are high costs in excavating a site to fit the planar necessities of a flat building. The building should be designed to take advantage of the terrain. In this week’s assignment, building the house on a slope was challenging but it provided the residents with great views. Further, the terrain was flatten in spots to make way for the house, however, it was done in a strategic way to keep costs low and still seem natural.
Why do stairs follow specific proportions with a set relationship between the tread length and riser height?
Stairs follow specific proportions with a set relationship between the tread length and riser height to ensure they accurately connect floors in a seamless manor as well as ensure safety. It is essential that stairs are not too steep or thin because this could result in major tripping or falling issues. The tread length and riser height relationship ensures stairs are usable while connecting floors in an effective and aesthetically pleasing way.
- How can building modeling help prevent the mistakes that often occur when designing and installing stairs?
By building a model, designers can see the exact amount of area and height that is provided when building a staircase. They can identify issues such as ceiling bottlenecks or stair gaps before beginning construction. They can also test different types of stairs to see which is most ergonomic with the space.