A drawing is a picture of a building. A model is a description of one.
◦ What questions can you ask a model that you cannot ask a drawing?
You can ask a model about the dimensions of a space and the materials needed to construct it. It gives instructions on the parameters needed to create the vibe and idea that a drawing invokes. Addtionally, a model is 3D, showing all aspects of a space that can not be achieved with a drawing.
◦ Are there things a drawing still communicates better? Give an example.
Drawings can communicate the “aesthetic” or “ambience” that a building should invoke. A drawing is a form of art, and a drawing of a building can be very pretty. It can provide more context to visual components of a structure, which will influence the construction decision-making done in the model (what kind of materials are used, colors, dimensions of things, etc.).
Where should a building model actually live?
◦ What are the practical consequences of a model living on one person's laptop?
This restricts the ability for collaboration on a project if only one person has access to the model. In reality, infrastructure projects are not done alone; it is unrealistic to expect meaningful development of an idea if the materials are not accessible to all involved.
Additionally, there is the practical risk of the model and important data being lost. As the responsibility of storing that model falls onto one person. If something technical goes wrong on their computer, the project can be lost and can set the whole team back.
◦ What changes when the model lives in the cloud, for the designer and for everyone else?
When the model lives in the cloud, it means that it is accessible for everyone on the team and signifies that the model is a collaborative effort. There are many bright minds and perspectives needed ot make a model come to life, and if there isn’t an active effort to facilitate peer review and co-working, the model can fall short.
You will make hundreds of modeling decisions this quarter.
◦ Which ones are worth being slow and careful about?
The ones worth being slow and careful about are the main components of my building, such as the materials being used, number of rooms, heights of walls, and number of windows. Dimensions of space should be done slowly and carefully, as the skeleton structure of the building will play a huge role in the feasibility of the model in mind.
◦ Which are worth being fast about, accepting that you may redo them?
Things related to aesthetics, such as furniture inside the space and the color of certain parts of the building.
◦ How would you tell the difference before you have made the mistake?
This one is kind of hard for me to determine. I think perhaps doing a mental note of whether or not what I am working on in my model is worthwhile or not (do I need to spend 2 hours choosing a specific paint color for the wall?). Also, getting feedback from the teaching team along the way (office hours!).