Massing for Schematic Design

[tstewart]

How to do schematic design using the Massing function in Revit 2022?

[RDAOU]

@tstewart 

Here is a webinar from Evolve-lab .. YOu can find more all over youtube 

And here is another from Jeremy Roh on Conceptual Design in massing Environment 

[tstewart]

Thank you and I need to see how to do a Schematic design w/ Massing.

[ToanDN]

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@tstewart wrote:
Thank you and I need to see how to do a Schematic design w/ Massing.

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Massing is more beneficial for studying forms when you design somewhat irregular shape buildings.  For a traditionally shaped building, not so much.  Schematic design is a term indicating a milestone of your design process, not the complexity of the form of the building.  So, can you so a sketch or a brief description of what is it you are designing?

[tstewart]

A security Training facility and Simulator. Should it be designed as a Project, rather than a "Mass Family?"

[tstewart]

This is not exactly what I needed help with. I think it is more how to use Massing as a design tool.

Thank you,

TS

[ToanDN]

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@tstewart wrote:
A security Training facility and Simulator. Should it be designed as a Project, rather than a "Mass Family?"

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How do you want it to look like?  A somewhat conventional school/office building with mostly vertical walls, flat or sloped roofs?  Or a faceted, or spaceship like building?

[tstewart]

Faceted, curvilinear, irregular space w/ sustainable elements.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

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@tstewart wrote:
Faceted, curvilinear, irregular space w/ sustainable elements.

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Indeed sounds like a job for using Mass. 

- Basically you start with a conceptual mass (either as a conceptual mass family or as an in-place mass in project) to create the form of the building

- Generate the exterior skin using curtain system/wall/roof by face, or divide the form's surfaces and use pattern based curtain panel/generic model family to cover the skin

- Create Levels and create floors by face ('slicing' the form with the Levels)

Have you watched the videos above?  Judging by @RDAOU  expertise on this topic I am sure they are useful.  I am familiar with Jeremy Roh's lessons and have watched a lot of his video tutorials when I started learning mass.  Do a search on YouTube using his name you will see.

Regarding whether to start form a Conceptual Mass family or an In-place mass in project, I am more comfortable with a conceptual mass family because it is 'purer', the interface is cleaner, you are not distracted by elements other than what you create in the mass itself.

[tstewart · Accepted solution]

Excellent and yes I watched the videos, although they were more advanced than I am currently. 

[RDAOU · Accepted solution]

@tstewart 

Those are not advanced!!! they are basics if you want to learn how to work efficiently in massing environment as a Designer/Architect. 

Otherwise; if it is only tips, bits, pieces and short cuts what you are looking for, then you will end up like 90% of Revit users and 3D modelers...

1. Not understanding the full potential of Conceptual massing
2. Wondering what good is Massing Environment for and moving straight to Project environment 
3. Then later start ranting how Revit is dull, uncreative and no good for designers