Modular modern architecture

Robbie222

Hey guys,

I am working on a project that involves building among others modern suburban houses ( just exterior). I am wondering if there isn't a smarter way to do. It takes me about a day worth of work to get done one.

I would like to create some modular parts in order to be able to build more houses faster and to have some variety, so they don't look like they are just duplicated.

I am hoping that I could get some help because I don't know how to approach this.

So far I have completed 3, gonna post some screenshots to give an idea of what I need.

ScottHoneycutt

I'm thinking this isn't best for the general discussion thread, maybe P&P or Technical Talk would be better.

Robbie222

In that case, sorry for mistaking. Hopefully a moderator can move it.

iconoplast

Most modern suburbs have about 3 floorplans total available in the various houses. On top of that, there are usually (in the US at least) strict rules about what color the houses can be, what materials the roof can be made out of, and so on. They'll look mostly the same from the outside except for some landscaping variations and minor color differences.

Wealthier neighborhoods will have a larger number of variations in the floorplans of houses but are more strict about roofing materials and the like. One notable exception is the newer money/upper middle class suburbs, which have houses that are generally called "McMansions". You'll never find more than 3 floorplans in one of those neighborhoods and there will be almost no external variations at all there.

Even if you're assuming a large variety of houses, you can get some good mileage out of having 3-4 houses and varying the details on them -- change the look and placement of windows, have different doors, etc.

ZacD

Also remember you can mirror houses to make 3 variations into 6. Sometimes you'll see the same floor plan with different roofs, and you can do the same house with different details like brick, stone, stucco, vinyl siding, etc.

iconoplast

Oh, also, here's an inspirational song for thinking about modern suburbs (it's why it was written!). Should help you keep the basics in mind...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM8JhvfoqdA"]Little Boxes - Walk off the Earth - YouTube[/ame]

sprunghunt

Modern houses do have certain parts in common. For example most builders will use pre-existing windows to create houses and floor plans will be designed around pre-built windows.

here's an existing catalog of window sizes from a certain manufacturer:
http://www.andersenwindows.com/~/media/aw/files/technical-docs/parts-catalog/partscatalog-windows-1932-1989--primedcasement.pdf

even roof trusses will be pre-made. Here's a roof truss catalog:
http://www.acrooftrusses.co.uk/download/WorldOfRoofTechnology.pdf

So houses will share certain elements between them and you can probably make a lot of parts in a modular way.

Justin Meisse

I was house hunting a not too long ago and here's the options in one new build neighborhood I was looking at: link

18 floor plans with 4 different variations each - basically just texture variations.

Robbie222

Thank you all for the info. Really helpful especially the link from Justin.

What I did wrong was to waiste time on modeling windows and doors holes into the walls instead of just adding them on top of the walls. ( This way I will also be able to place them around easily )

Thanks to you guys I should be able to build now about 4 times faster.