Why is it important to accurately model the land features of your project site with a toposurface?
I really struggled with configuring the entrance, so I think the outside-inside interface is really reliant on having an accurate topography, as well as placement of windows!
When designing a project...
I'm of the opinion that a building should adapt to the terrain. Each site is so specific and I think the building is made even better when it is designed in harmony and in reverence of the site around it.
Why do stairs follow specific proportions with a set relationship between the tread length and riser height?
I'd imaging that stairs follow specific proportions for safety reasons, it allows people to travel the stairs easier and makes it less likely that people trip and fall. Building modeling helps prevent mistakes because it makes uniform steps from the beginning. It also allows you to see, while mocking up the building, that there will probably be more space needed for the rail, shaft, rise etc.