What are the principal advantages of creating a conceptual design model using masses before diving into the detailed design and building element modeling?
Massing allows for quick visualization of the overall building form and scale. It helps stakeholders understand the project's spatial relationships without getting overwhelmed by details. Additionally, working with mass models encourages the exploration of different design options and configurations. You can easily manipulate shapes and sizes to see how they affect the composition. Making changes to a mass model is usually faster and easier than altering detailed models. This iterative process allows for more creativity and experimentation without the constraints of building component details. Mass models can help visualize how the building interacts with its surroundings, aiding in site planning and integration with existing infrastructure and facilitating early analysis of sun paths, wind patterns, and views, allowing for better decision-making regarding energy efficiency and site orientation. Ultimately, conceptual models can be more accessible for clients and stakeholders who may not be familiar with architectural details, they provide a clear starting point for discussions and feedback, and facilitate making changes if needed.
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?
I think conceptual mass models were used to build the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain (designed by Frank Gehry). The building is famous for its organic forms and complex geometries and I could see the usefulness of mass models and exploring the fluid shapes and how they impact their surroundings.
