Astelier Architectural Services Livingston, Montana

VectorWorks ARCHITECT image fill and sketch rendering mode help Montana architect get the green light for new construction in an exclusive club in Big Sky Montana.

Architect Delmer Cox, principal of Astelier Architectural Services, took a chance when he designed a home with contemporary elements, at his clients' request, to fit among the more rustic existing residences within The Yellowstone Club, an exclusive members-only ski and golf club in Big Sky, Montana. When the very conservative Architectural Review Committee (ARC) for the private community asked him to go back to the drawing board, Cox extensively redesigned the house—going through eight revisions in less than two weeks— to avoid extended debates on what should and should not be allowed. And the new sketch rendering mode in VectorWorks ARCHITECT came to his rescue.

He designed the 5,000 square-foot residence to incorporate mining and agrarian influences indigenous to the area, combining rustic, industrial elements with clean, contemporary lines. Cox came up with a compromise that responded to his client's wishes yet also met ARC's strict requirements.

Quick turnaround secures approvals

“The committee's initial feedback was that the skewed axis of the original design produced roof forms that were too different from existing residences," explains Cox. “So, working with one committee member, I went through a number of fairly radical changes until both client and committee were happy. The ease of adaptation with VectorWorks ARCHITECT was a key factor in satisfying the committee's regulations and parameters, as well as my client's wishes."

Sketch steals the show

Modeling in 3D and using the image fill function in combination with the new sketch mode were vital in convincing the review committee to approve Cox's design.

“Using the sketch capacity and image fill in VectorWorks ARCHITECT went a long, long way in convincing the ARC that the structure had enough rustic appeal to fit in with the neighboring buildings," says Cox. “For the final submission, I portrayed traditional reclaimed materials using digitally captured rustic images. It gave everything a rough, warm-and-fuzzy feel that was further enhanced by the new sketch mode. The resulting presentation drawings caused one review member to ask if the level of detail shown was within the project budget. With these new presentation features, final renderings were able to perfectly complement the materials pallet and the building style the committee was looking for."

Benefit to the bottom line

“With the intuitive nature of VectorWorks ARCHITECT, I am able to crank out original design ideas—not modifications of old designs—very quickly. This means I'm not so reliant on previous projects and can explore options without immediately worrying about the allotted budget. Firms often spend so much time developing, revising and drafting that they use up allocations without getting into new territory and, therefore, limit their options."

This, in turn, goes hand in hand with creativity, according to Cox. “If you're really bogged down and have to get a set of drawings out, you put your nose to the grindstone and do it. But VectorWorks ARCHITECT gives me so many time-saving tools and capabilities that I can explore alternatives for the client and achieve exactly what they're looking for. At the same time, it allows me to practice my craft instead of getting bogged down in the mechanics. So it's a good fit for everyone involved."