Sketching is still the quickest way to get ideas on paper. Following a traditional approach, designs should be able to be created quickly, iterated, revised and in many cases thrown away. Unfortunately, existing modelling software requires too many upfront decisions, too much time and a high degree of modelling ability to make even simple models Users can invest significant time in, essentially, highly abortive work.
Spaces strips the process back to the essential functions, allowing rapid design concepts to be created and edited with little or no modelling ability. While the model is being developed via sketches, building and site data - floor areas, site ratios - are being calculated and reported live. Changing the slope of a facade sees all affected levels instantly resize, and their updated areas are displayed, providing instant feedback to the designer. This data-driven approach to design ensures conceptual designs maximise potential while also aiding with planning compliance.
Spaces starts with the overall form and bulk of a building while at the same time treating it as a multi-level building to extract valuable data. As the design evolves, this form can be further refined. Individual levels or groups of stories can be edited independently, building facades can be applied and contoured to make the project more detailed.
Spaces is a parametric design tool that focuses on creating the overall form quickly and leveraging the power of the iPad hardware. By applying parametric elements - for example, cladding - to the base model, the designer can edit the building form and have the cladding automatically respond to these changes.
As the conceptual design process is iterative, it is common to explore options. These design explorations may be rejected, or not be worked through in great detail, but form part of the overall evolution of the design. Allowing these various design options to be managed quickly and easily within a single project allows the designer to concentrate on the design and benefit from the power of the software.
Site and context are vital aspects for any new design, and Spaces allows the designer to bring in Open Street Map data creating the surrounding buildings in one step. The new project can easily be assessed within this context and respond to its surroundings, whilst site data and ratios update in real-time.
The roadmap ahead has some compelling developments that will further integrate Spaces into the overall design workflow - these updates and new features are released monthly.
As the conceptual design process is iterative, it is common to explore options. These design explorations may be rejected or not be worked throughin great detail but form part of the overall evolution of the design. Allowing these various design options to be managed quickly and easily within a singleproject allows the designer to concentrate on the design and not the software features.
Site and context are vital aspects for any new design, and Spaces allows the designer to bring in Open Street Map data creating the surrounding buildings in one step. The new project can easily be assessed within this context and respond to its surroundings.
