HOME: documenting existing conditions Š Jerry Lum 2015
HOME: An Exercise in Documenting Existing Conditions Documenting existing conditions is a typical task of the architect or interior designer. It may be to check the accuracy of existing plans or in when there are none to develop a new set of drawings. In this assignment, we are measuring our home, whether it is a house or apartment. This measurement task includes the shell spaces and all of the major pieces of furniture and equipment. Using these measurements, a three-dimensional model is created using SketchUp. Then a copy of that file is made and alternate space planning studies are conducted to create better use of available space to enhance livability. Of course, if you rent, you most likely move more frequently than those who purchase homes (who can afford this in the San Francisco Bay Area?). Because of this, these studies will come in handy to determine whether or not an apartment being considered will serve your needs or not. Whatever you come up with, your space planning arrangement will inevitable change over time as you go about your life. Mine certainly did in these images of my obviously well-lived-in living area and kitchen.
First Things First
Using your freehand sketching, draw a rough floor plan of your home. Put dimensions lines on each of the major spaces, i.e. the width and depth. Accuracy, proportions, and scale are not important at this point in time. Include heights of walls and partitions. Using your tape measure, record your measurements on the respective dimension lines. Include all the built-in furnishings and fixtures, e.g. tub, shower enclosure, toilet, cabinets, etc. When you are finished, you will use this dimensioned plan to create a SketchUp model in 3D.
Next
In Camera>Parallel Projection>Standard View>Top, use your rectangle tool to create your measured in-scale floor plan. Include dimensions using the Dimension Tool Label your rooms using the Label Tool Import bathroom fixtures from 3D Warehouse Add floor materials and finishes using Paint Bucket
Next
Back into Perspective, use your Push/Pull Tool to create walls and partitions. See Google SketchUp 8 for Dummies, chapter 4 for reference. Include windows and doors as openings only This view is a 1-point Perspective Floor Plan Notice that the wall thicknesses (nominally 6-inches thick) are rendered in black. Use your Paint Bucket to PochÊ the walls. Also note that I’ve used the Section Tool to create this horizontal section plane cut.
Next
Orbiting around, this is a 3-point perspective floor plan. Note that the vertical edges are converging towards the third vanishing point.
Next
Make a list of all major furnishings and equipment. Then measure the height, width, and depth of each. Use SketchUp to model the basic forms of your furnishings and equipment to be placed into your modeled home. As you create each one, turn it into a Group and put it into its own Layer. In this way, you may toggle each on and off as you are exploring where to locate and organize your furniture. Lining all of your furniture in a line helps when selecting and moving each one into place. This line of furnishings can be put into a layer so that you may conveniently toggle its visibility on and off.
Perspective Vignettes Now that your home is a threedimensional model replete with all major built-in’s, furniture, and equipment, it’s time to create your best set of perspective images to complete your documentation of your existing apartment or house where you live. As you zoom, orbit, and pan to identify these images to export into a new folder labeled “Home Images”, bookmark these as Scenes so that you may return to them after you develop your alternative space planning studies. A visual comparison between “Before and After” will be the test of your interior design abilities. In these following vignettes, notice that I’ve tweaked the Style used, editing out all edge lines and using only value changes to articulate three-dimensional form. Shadows are used to enhance this intentional effect Top Image: View from Entry Bottom Image: View entering the Living Area
Perspective Vignettes Top Image: View within Living Area
Bottom Image: View within Living Area looking towards Entry
Perspective Vignettes Top Image: View within Kitchen looking out towards Living Area
Note that I have intentionally tweaked the Style to render these images in more of an abstract graphic manner Ethereal, don’t you think?
Bottom Image: View within Kitchen looking in opposite direction from above
Perspective Vignettes Top Image: View from Bedroom looking into Bath
Bottom Image: View within Bedroom looking out towards garden below Susan! What are you doing in my bedroom?
Perspective Vignettes Top Image: Longitudinal Section – 1 point perspective, looking towards apartment corridor See Google SketchUp 8 for Dummies, chapter 10: Presenting your model inside SketchUp
Bottom Image: Longitudinal Section – 1 point perspective, looking towards garden