Why is it important to accurately model the land features of your project site with a toposurface?
- What aspects of a building design are most affected by the terrain features?
It’s important to model the terrain correctly so that your building is structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing. The foundation and lower level walls have to be stable, and the entrances and windows on the ground floor must make sense with the environment.
When designing a project...
- Should the building adapt to the terrain?
- Or, should you adapt the terrain to the building?
I think there has to be a balance between adapting the building to the terrain and vice versa. Sometimes it’s unavoidable to change the terrain because of the environmental conditions. For example, if the site is on a steep slope or in a marshy area. I think the style of building also comes into play here, and different architects have had different philosophies on it. For example, Frank Lloyd Write believed that houses should defer to their surroundings and appear to be growing out of the nature around them.
Why do stairs follow specific proportions with a set relationship between the tread length and riser height?
- How can building modeling help prevent the mistakes that often occur when designing and installing stairs?
Stairs are regulated in tread length and riser height for safety and convenience of their users. Certain proportions make them easier to climb and descend. Designers can play with the scale to slow people down or hurry them along, and therefore impact the experience of their structure. If you model the stairs precisely, the builders installing them know exactly how many and how big to make them.