I'm working on a project now that really needs some 3-D modeling, because it's on a steep up-slope. I can imagine the various levels as I work through the design, but I'd like to be able to show the masses and scales easily to someone else. In the past, we would make a cardboard model, but that gets pretty time-consuming. That's not a problem when in school, but working for a client with a particular design budget, time is of the essence.
So, now I'm taking a lot of un-billable time to learn some computer modeling programs - Google Sketchup and Revit. Both are a real challenge, but I can see the benefit. I should have bitten the bullet on this long ago, but I'm a bit of a "luddite." I really much prefer drafting by hand than spending so much of my time on the computer.
We'll see how it all ends. Presently, I am totally frustrated with Revit and am switching to Sketchup. This is a pretty limited program, but I think that's what I need, to start.
So much of this project will be underground, it helps to see it in 3-D as I work on it. Wish me luck!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Landscape
I'm starting off this year's blog with 'Landscape' because this is a very real issue with Building Beneath projects, especially those with excavation but really all of them. Whenever embarking on an extensive construction project your landscape gets trashed - it's relatively inevitable. What does not get trashed is often such a small amount that the Landscape Designer does not want to design around it.
So, while you are working out what your budget will be for the BB project, be sure to include a percentage for landscaping and sock it away in a separate account so that it is really there at the end. You've probably seen the common sight of a nice remodeling project sitting in a "construction-zone" long after the owners have moved back in. Either it sits there waiting for the owners to gather enough moolah for this final stage, or the homeowners try to take care of it themselves, every weekend making a little more progress.
I've had clients who say it's too expensive to include with the BB design work but, seriously, design work is the least expensive part of a large project and landscape design is pretty minimal, in terms of cost. However, it can be maximal in terms of impact, especially if you're living in a temparate climate, where a lot of your living occurs in the outdoors.
The six main ways your landscape is impacted by a large residential project are: 1. The way one transitions into the house at the front or side might change dramatically. 2. The way one transitions to the yard out the rear or side of the house might change and is equally important. 3. The ground-floor level might end up lower than the existing grade so a sunken garden, or a graded side yard, can accommodate this change and make a huge difference. 4. Retaining walls and foundations require waterproofing and transmittal of water run-off through underground pipes, so there are ditches and trenches, sometimes deep ones, running through the yard. 5. The existing planting gets trashed in spite of the best attempts to protect it. 6. Underground rooms require light-wells or skylights, which affect the landscape.
I'd like to elaborate on these in the next blog entry.
So, while you are working out what your budget will be for the BB project, be sure to include a percentage for landscaping and sock it away in a separate account so that it is really there at the end. You've probably seen the common sight of a nice remodeling project sitting in a "construction-zone" long after the owners have moved back in. Either it sits there waiting for the owners to gather enough moolah for this final stage, or the homeowners try to take care of it themselves, every weekend making a little more progress.
I've had clients who say it's too expensive to include with the BB design work but, seriously, design work is the least expensive part of a large project and landscape design is pretty minimal, in terms of cost. However, it can be maximal in terms of impact, especially if you're living in a temparate climate, where a lot of your living occurs in the outdoors.
The six main ways your landscape is impacted by a large residential project are: 1. The way one transitions into the house at the front or side might change dramatically. 2. The way one transitions to the yard out the rear or side of the house might change and is equally important. 3. The ground-floor level might end up lower than the existing grade so a sunken garden, or a graded side yard, can accommodate this change and make a huge difference. 4. Retaining walls and foundations require waterproofing and transmittal of water run-off through underground pipes, so there are ditches and trenches, sometimes deep ones, running through the yard. 5. The existing planting gets trashed in spite of the best attempts to protect it. 6. Underground rooms require light-wells or skylights, which affect the landscape.
I'd like to elaborate on these in the next blog entry.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)