Fly Through Animations of ADU

When hiring an architect, I insisted that they must render the architectural design in SketchUp, a 3D modeling software that is now owned by Google. SketchUp is the best way to visualize spatial designs; it's relatively simple to create models, and even simpler to navigate through them once they are built. Did I mention that it's also free? Fortunately for me, my architect was quite skilled at designing in SketchUp.

While plan and section, 2D CAD drawings may suffice as a visual aid for some architects and builders, it's quite clear to me as a customer that 3D modeling is a far superior way for the average mortal to understand a complex design. A 3D model is essential to understanding a building's site and landscape design elements such as fences and trees, proximate relationships between standard home features like windows, doors, and cabinets, and it can even be astutely used to get a better grasp on the implications of aesthetic choices like furniture, textures, and finishes.

Every architect should provide customizable SketchUp models to their clients, and every client should be able to navigate their way through a SketchUp model. In an earlier post, I included some screen shots of various views in the model. What follows are two fly-through animations of the ADU design, in which I attempt to convey the physical spaces in the building.

Views of the ADU

My architect has put together a great SketchUp model. I've put the model into the site baseline conditions model. Here are some view of the models.

SketchUp Models of ADU design

To get a permit for an ADU, you need to have design plans. This step is typically handled by an architect and an engineer, but in my case, I wanted to do the bulk of the design work myself. According to planning rules in Portland, ADU's have similar unique design constraints to which they must adhere.

• The roof height can be no greater than 18ft. 
• The roof pitch must match the existing roof pitch. 
• The siding, windows, and details, must visually match the existing house.
• The total square footage must be less than 800 sq ft.
  

And there's some other guidelines related to how far the ADU must sit from the property lines and existing house. I spent many hours experimenting with a variety of floor plans, and with my father, girlfriends, and friend's help, put together what I thought was a viable plan.

Since I was going to be constructing a building from scratch, instead of renovating an existing structure, I decided that it made sense to build a larger structure than I had initially imagined building. The structure would be closer to 800 sq ft, big enough to accommodate two people, with some kind of creative sleeping option  for overnight guests.

ADU Schematic drawings_Dec 8th, 2010

When the design is placed in the based model, it looks like this.

From ADU Schematic drawings_Dec 8th, 2010

SketchUp Model

Before I'd even closed on the property, I wanted to get a base model of the property done in SketchUp, a 3D modeling tool, to help me get a sense of where an ADU would best be situated on the property.

I am pretty good with SketchUp, but I hired a pro to do a base model for me. After about five hours of work, my hired gun built a very slick 3D model for me, including the landscape, the existing house, and the surrounding neighbors.