What are the principal advantages of creating a conceptual design model using masses before diving into the detailed design and building element modeling?
In its inception, conceptual designs are essential to explore different ideas before diving in and committing to detailed design. With this module, we understood how we can actually iterate very easily, without an actually software (using google chrome and forma), the basic idea of a building. Basic aspects as position within the site, form, height, purpose, gross floor area were easily covered in a quick an iterative manner that can get discussed with key stakeholder for an initial design meeting. The key aspect or at least the one that I particularly enjoyed the most was the visual comparison including metrics within different aspects related to climate. I had a lot of fun iterating between building components and metrics and got curious to explore how that calculations were actually made.
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?
If you have the chance I would definitely encourage you to do so, as in a pretty practical way you can learn a lot about the proposal within seconds, comparing alternatives and probably saving a lot of energy if you act on the insights provided by Forma.
I understand it’s easy to see why you probably don’t need to do it when it is a small house in countryside with no real interaction with other buildings and a know climate. You probably are not going to be able to hire a design firm specialized in energy efficiency in buildings to sit down with you to explore different alternatives regarding aspects like microclimate and wind current in your site.
Nevertheless, the knowledge and the tools will continue to grow in the industry, and as we continue to push decision-making from the construction phase towards the early design phases, tools like Forma and the use of conceptual masses for even small houses will and should increase to create better buildings.
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?
- CMG Headquarters: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMG_Headquarters#/media/File:China_Central_Television_Headquarters_2.jpg
- For this one I think you could do everything in forma hahaha, as it is a just a pretty big box with a rooftop on top. Really equally distributed floors and
- Twisting torso: https://www.archdaily.com/771471/santiago-calatravas-turning-torso-wins-ctbuhs-10-year-award
- This one I actually don’t know, but I’ll think about it.