What are the principal advantages of creating a conceptual design model using masses before diving into the detailed design and building element modeling?
Creating a conceptual design model by using masses allows for designers to quickly consider various forms with a high level of awareness of the context of the surroundings. They can quickly alter shapes, mass, structure, height, width and scale with various massing tools. Placed in the site model, these early on designs can be easily compared to the surrounding built environment to analyze how it responds. Using a program like Forma immensely increases the power of experimentation, with additional tools like quick dimension and square footage calculations as well as analysis of building performance with regard to the environment. These decisions tend to have a larger impact in the economics of the building, thus reducing costs. Designers can easily propose these big picture ideas to the client with leeway for alterations. Then once a general mass/form has been decided on that they feel good about, it is much easier to fill in program details afterwards which require a much larger time commitment.
Should all buildings be modeled first using conceptual masses?
When is it needed/appropriate? And when not?
For example, should you create a conceptual mass model of a small house?
Not all buildings should be modeled first using conceptual masses. I think conceptual masses work best for large scale commercial buildings in high density areas where form and the built environment have high importance. This process is very useful when creating complex geometries and forms as it allows for quick ideations without complex detailing. However, some designs like generic office buildings or skyscrapers that take the form of a rectangular box do not need conceptual masses to first discover the shape as it is predefined. Conceptual masses are also harder at a smaller scale, for example, small houses. Most of the time, small houses cannot explore geometrical spatial arrangements as there is little program, a significantly lower budget, and often a client with predefined ideas of what the house should look like. At that point, it would most likely save time to begin working in Revit defining the walls and program as you go.
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?
Please post and share images of these examples to this Notion page.
How would you abstract the essential form of these famous buildings using conceptual mass elements that you can create in Revit?
- One World Trade Center: https://www.archdaily.com/795277/one-world-trade-center-som
- CMG Headquarters: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMG_Headquarters#/media/File:China_Central_Television_Headquarters_2.jpg
- Twisting torso: https://www.archdaily.com/771471/santiago-calatravas-turning-torso-wins-ctbuhs-10-year-award
- Apple campus: https://www.archdaily.com/804970/apple-campus-2-held-to-fantastical-standard-of-detail-new-report-reveals
- Salesforce tower: https://www.archdaily.com/889519/salesforce-tower-pelli-clarke-pelli-architects