9 replies to this topic

[randolph cohn]

click on LINK below:

in architectural school, many first learn how to design using the

 

"bubble / schematic diagram method"

 

https://www.bing.com...DF&pc=EUPP_MSE1

 

you could say, this applies to  "form follows function"

 

https://www.bing.com...S&setlang=en-US

[Tom Rogers]

all my designs still start with bubble diagrams

 

Some even stop there 

[Keith Almond]

Most of mine do too ... It surprises some customers that all we need to start a design is a few bubbles indicating room relationships.

[Edward Shannon]

I don't typically do DFR's (Diagrams of Functional Relationships) for houses.  I do see the need for them with programmatic intense buildings i.e. schools and hospitals.  I have seen any avoidance of Frank Lloyd Wright (or any seminal architect) using these!  Instead their architecture started with a great idea (concept) 

 

However, I often get clients who throw a floor plan in front of me and I would like to stop this practice.  one way is to begin with a bubble diagram.  

 

Does Soft Plan have any way to do these?  (I'm told Chief does!) 

[Tim Stockton]

Ed - I typically start with bubble diagrams on paper. As I move to the computer, I can then begin with simply using room names, having erased the bubbles. With the room names in the proper places, I can then begin sketching the walls in and working towards a concept, checking size along the way. That’s part of the great thought process of SP is that you can sketch it in first, and then begin editing and adjusting the room sizes and shapes. Other times though, I will begin with he concept first and design from the outside in. I am currently using that method on a farmhouse plan. In that case, I sketch the outline of the house, maybe even add the roof to make sure it is the look I want, and then move to the interior. Either way, it is always important to the know end goal before starting so that the shape and concept are correct and work together. Just a couple of thoughts...

[Gary McKeon]

I don't typically do DFR's (Diagrams of Functional Relationships) for houses.  I do see the need for them with programmatic intense buildings i.e. schools and hospitals.  I have seen any avoidance of Frank Lloyd Wright (or any seminal architect) using these!  Instead their architecture started with a great idea (concept) 

 

However, I often get clients who throw a floor plan in front of me and I would like to stop this practice.  one way is to begin with a bubble diagram.  

 

Does Soft Plan have any way to do these?  (I'm told Chief does!) 

 

Yes, Chief has a function that does this. All it really is is a set of pre-sized boxes that you put onto a "sheet". You can then change those boxes into a "room". complete with walls. This works for them because in Chief you edit spaces based upon the "room name" that you give it vs. Softplan which you edit walls which actually gives you much more flexibility (yes, Softplan can do a lot of things with "rooms" as well- it just works from a different premise).

I rarely use a bubble diagram and really don't see much of a need for my program of choice to offer that ability- but that's just me.

[Brad Graber]

I use them with pencil and paper during meetings with clients.  I feel their a great tool, to get the clients to focus on the basics instead of designing the house around the type of island they want.

[David Zawadzki]

I have always used bubble diagrams to start a new project. I found it a lot more efficient to move individual boxes around to get a floor plan to work than moving walls and openings.

[Dennis Hilborn]

I used to use bubbles but switched to rough drawn rectangles.  The rectangle method is not much different than using bubbles.  They are hand sketched and corrections are made by copying on another layer of cheap tracing paper.  I use a marks-alot on the end sketches, turned narrow is a partition wall and turned flat is a brick veneer wall. 

 

But I tell most customers to come to me with a bubble diagram of what's in their head.  Most say they have no idea what they are thinking about but 2-3 days later they come back with a sketch of something.  Then I take that and try to make something nice out of that.  Saves me a lot of time, and the customer is more likely to feel "attached" the the house.

 

I'm not in this to make my ego feel good, I want to draw a set of plans that will make the customer happy and serve his purposes well.  After 40 years of doing this it's what works best for me.

 

I have an associate who takes the customer's requests, comes up with a sketch and presents it to the customer.  He uses the bubble method.  He really has the "architect" mind set but is not licensed.  Then says to them "take it or leave it".  I've gotten to work with a lot of his customers who "left it".