Residential complex design and architecture: a step-by-step guide

Edificius User eXperience is the new series from BibLus BIM where projects or concepts created directly by users of Edificius are presented to the general public, the architectural design software. A way to discover what those who use the software daily really think, what their operational methods are, the technical and design solutions adopted, the critical issues, and the advantages.

Direct experiences, with interviews, opinions, and tricks of the trade told directly by Edificius users.

We at the BibLus editorial team have been fascinated by these stories and are truly excited. We hope you feel the same!

This first issue is dedicated to the project of a residential complex to be built in Sicily, Bagheria, by the PROG.E.CO studio of architect Giovanni Di Stefano.

EdificiusUX – Render of the residential complex designed with Edificius

Residential complex plan: a perfect balance of functionality and style

When talking about residential complexes, it is impossible not to mention the Unité d’Habitation by Le Corbusier, a symbolic project of the Modern Movement that redefined the concept of living by integrating domestic functions with urban ones. This “vertical city” represents an innovative solution that alternates private and shared spaces, utilizing reinforced concrete and the principles of Rationalism to optimize the livability of environments.

Although Le Corbusier’s projects date back to the mid-20th century, some fundamental principles he introduced continue to influence contemporary architecture. The demographic increase, especially in urban centers, has pushed designers to develop housing solutions that meet the growing demand for accommodation without compromising quality of life. The approach based on the Modulor, theorized by Le Corbusier, aimed precisely at this: to create high-density housing structures that maintained a human and functional scale.

Today, in an era of great transformations, residential construction is called to innovate to meet the new needs of society. Co-housing, for example, is redefining the concept of living, emphasizing not only the home but also the social relationships among tenants. The flexibility of spaces is another central theme, with homes designed to adapt to different needs, in line with an increasingly heterogeneous society. Moreover, the integration of digital technologies in buildings and the growing attention to environmental sustainability are becoming essential requirements for new projects.

The growing interest in sustainability, energy efficiency, and innovative housing solutions is redefining how we conceive residential complexes.

In recent years, the The Plan Award, a prestigious international architecture award, has highlighted the most current trends in the housing sector ranging from the use of eco-friendly materials to the design of smart and interconnected buildings.

The residential architecture of tomorrow will be the result of a combination of technology, sustainability, and new forms of social interaction, creating residential complexes capable of dynamically responding to the needs of people and the cities in which they live.

Designing a residential complex requires careful planning to ensure an optimal balance between functionality and style. Every aspect of the layout must be studied to promote livability, maximizing the use of space and improving the quality of life for residents. Good planning of a residential complex includes the strategic arrangement of buildings, green areas, and common services, ensuring accessibility and comfort.

The arrangement of internal and external spaces must take into account geographical conditions (exposure based on cardinal points, winds, sunlight, etc.) as well as factors closely related to the location (traffic, noise exposure, presence of strategic buildings, microclimate, etc.) to avoid potential inconveniences and enhance landscape features.

For example, prioritizing views towards monuments, points of interest, landscapes, etc. can increase the property’s value and improve the livability of the home.

These choices must be fully integrated and consistent with the stylistic choices of the property.

Choices of materials, technologies, systems, furnishings, and colors deserve thorough study and design capability that will significantly influence the final result.

For further reading, see also Single-family home: definition, architecture, and projects.

Residential complex landscape design: harmony between architecture and nature

A fundamental aspect in the realization of a residential complex is the landscape design, which must create a perfect blend between the built environment and nature. Green areas not only enhance the aesthetics of the complex but also contribute to the psychological and physical well-being of the inhabitants, reducing urban heat and improving air quality. The use of sustainable solutions, such as green roofs, rooftop gardens, and rainwater harvesting systems, helps to reduce environmental impact and improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Furthermore, well-designed pedestrian pathways, recreational spaces, and relaxation zones promote socialization and a sense of community. Architectural choices also influence the landscape, so it is always advisable to consider the natural and architectural context of the surrounding environment. The building must fit into an already established context and cannot disregard it.

Moreover, it is necessary to study the regulatory framework to check if there are constraints or prescriptions from the urban planning that direct architectural choices towards predefined standards (for example, facade colors, types and materials of windows, roof slope, etc.).

Residential complex design ideas: innovative solutions for modern living

New trends in the design of residential complexes focus on innovation and the creation of environments that meet the needs of contemporary life. The adoption of smart technologies, such as home automation systems and intelligent energy systems, ensures greater efficiency and living comfort. Additionally, the use of sustainable materials and modular solutions allows for cost optimization and reduced environmental impact. The most advanced design ideas foresee flexible and multifunctional spaces, capable of adapting to the different needs of users, as well as solutions that encourage the sharing of spaces and the creation of active and dynamic communities.

Living spaces are compact but optimized to make the most of the available living area, thanks also to custom solutions and flexible furnishings.

Casa 8i

Below are some renders of the residential project Casa 8i, which combines the principles of contemporary living with a coherent architectural style. The 3D model, renders, and graphic elaborations were created with Edificius, the architectural design software.

The Casa 8i project stands out for the presence of two mirrored building volumes, each intended for an autonomous housing unit, with the peculiarity of sharing a single foundation.

The two blocks, characterized by an alternating color combination, develop over two distinct levels: ground floor and first floor.

On the ground floor, there are the areas dedicated to the living zone, including:

• a spacious living room,
• a kitchen,
• a bathroom.

The living area is particularly bright thanks to a large glass wall in the living room, which opens directly onto the outdoor space in front. Additionally, natural shading is ensured by the overhanging volume of the upper floor, which protects the interiors from direct sunlight.

Access to the first floor is via an imposing “U” shaped staircase, positioned directly in front of the main entrance. Covered in an elegant dark gray, the staircase is illuminated by tall, narrow windows that enhance its dramatic presence. The upper floor houses the sleeping area, consisting of three bedrooms and two bathrooms (one common and the other exclusively for the master bedroom). The master bedroom stands out for being located in an overhanging volume, which not only emphasizes the aesthetics of the building but also offers a stunning panoramic view.

A canopy on the basement level visually connects the two residential units, also serving as a walkway accessible from the first floor.

On the ground floor, in addition to the living spaces, there are:

• a garage with capacity for two cars,
• two rooms designated for storage,
• a technical room dedicated to the systems.

Thanks to careful and functional design, Casa 8i combines aesthetics, comfort, and modern architectural solutions to offer a unique living experience.

Project of a multi-family residential complex

In general, in the design of a building, it is never easy to combine aesthetic needs with practical-functional aspects. Designing means meeting the client’s expectations while respecting regulations, urban planning tools, and the rules of good construction.

The project chosen today for the Edificius User eXperience is called “Domus Alba” and relates to the construction of a building made up of two joined bodies, which houses 7 residential units.

Let’s see how the designer has tackled these challenges!

The concept

From a construction perspective, the intervention is framed as an isolated multi-family residential complex. It consists of 2 above-ground floors, in addition to the stair towers and a basement level.

Domus Alba – Architectural concept

On the ground and first floors, there are residential units totaling 7 apartments, divided into 4 in the building referred to as “A” and 3 in the block referred to as “B”.

The basement houses the collective garage for cars and motorcycles, as well as the space designated for the condominium water reserve, which also includes technical rooms intended to accommodate other types of systems or machinery necessary for the operation and comfort of the building. The plan layout is based on simplicity, essentially resembling a rectangle. This simplicity has not, however, prevented a volumetric articulation with a complex relationship of solids and voids.

The use of colors in strong chromatic contrast, from light ivory white to concrete gray, generates an interesting chromatic relationship, creating areas of light and shadow that characterize the facades.

A strong point in the framing of the facades is the presence of inclined walls, which from a compositional point of view play an important role in making the built structure identifiable and unique within the urban and landscape context in which it is inserted.

Domus Alba – partition walls sketch

For the definition of the facades, a plaster with different grain sizes was chosen for the light and dark tones; the fixtures will be made of aluminum, in satin white, with thermal break and triple glazing.

The railings of the balconies in steel and anti-reflective and shatterproof glass will ensure the safety of users of terraces and balconies.

The entrance doors to the stairwell will be gray to provide a simple color contrast.

From a plant engineering perspective, the building will be equipped with photovoltaic and solar thermal panels, while the management of the residential units will utilize home automation to optimize consumption and meet the needs of modern living.

Designing residential complexes with Edificius: from BIM modeling to detailed plans

Modeling with Edificius, the ACCA software for BIM architectural design, allowed for the modeling of the land and the insertion of the excavations on which the building’s foundations rest.

This operation was carried out starting from the import of the land survey, previously conducted with the aid of GPS instrumentation.

Terrain modeling with Edificius

The project stems from a study lasting about 12 months, therefore there are also DWG files, which made the work even easier, since Edificius automatically recognizes, with the magic wand tool, the entities of the imported DWG drawing.

Thus, the creation of horizontal and vertical enclosures is easy and automatic.

Even simpler is the positioning of windows, railings, and all the 3D objects present both in the software and in the rich Online Library.

Domus Alba – Objects automatic recognition

Comparison with the Edificius Facebook group and ACCA support

During the design phase, the comparison with the participants in the dedicated Facebook group, as well as the technical support from ACCA for Edificius, was quite significant. In particular, I remember the problems encountered in modeling the inclined walls that constitute the architectural strength of the project.

This aspect made me lose a bit of time searching for a solution, which then the support service resolved in just a few minutes!

I can therefore state that within just 10 working days, I started and completed the project while having a starting base of the DWGs.

Challenges encountered

During the design process with Edificius, I did not encounter any particular difficulties or challenges. The only noteworthy issue concerned the inclined walls, but as already mentioned, I easily solved it thanks to the assistance and the online video tutorials available. In just a few minutes, an ACCA support technician showed me, via a connection to my terminal, how to tackle the issue and resolve the problem.

In the end, the solution turned out to be simple, almost trivial, but focused on solving the problem.

Starting from the wall drawn in plan, I subsequently raised the height of the impost and activated the trapezoid property. I just needed to visualize the lower profile of the enclosure and obtain the first embryo of what I wanted. After inserting a node in the visualized profile, it was enough to drag it to the desired point, and the wall was done. Exactly as I wanted!

Modeling walls with Edificius

Advantages offered by the software

The main advantage of Edificius is that it allows you to have everything under control: it is easy to obtain sections, elevations, and all the documents considered most appropriate to support the project.

The possibility of integration with other ACCA software truly gives the feeling of having full control over the designed work.

No less significant, since I am a user, is the integration with Sketchup, which allows you to modify, integrate, or import new objects and simultaneously obtain specific models in no time.

Exceptional is the Real Time processing that allows you to grasp the essence of the project by entering it, almost touching what has been designed, without waiting for long rendering times.

Interior rendering produced with Edificius

Generation of tables and project documents for the residential complex

At the output level, I produced the plans for all levels, the elevations, and the sections; I generated axonometric sections and perspective views from which I obtained the renders.

All documents were easily exportable for the printing process: it is possible to set the quality of resolution and presentation.

Roof plan produced with Edificius

Underground floor plan – produced with Edificius

First floor plan – produced with Edificius

First floor plan – produced with Edificius

Main elevation view – produced with Edificius

Interior design

Below I include some renders that I created.

Render living area

Interior render – living area – created with Edificius

Visualization of the residential complex project: bringing ideas to life with renders and videos

For the “Domus Alba” project, I decided to create two presentation videos: one in daylight conditions and one at night, to highlight the external lighting system of the building.

Thanks to Real Time Rendering, the production of these videos was simple and fast, allowing me an excellent final presentation of the designed project.

Settings and configurations adopted in the project of a residential complex

For the creation of the Renderings, I generally use these settings and configurations that meet the rendering needs:

• Exposure: -14
• Direct light: 6.8
• Camera Spot: 0.04
• IBL Backgrounds: 3.2
• Dimensions: 3840 x 2160
• Number of passes inserted: 1290

Settings and configurations to create a render in Edificius

Interview with Arch. Giovanni Di Stefano (PROG.E.CO)

This is what I think about Edificius.