Product Code Database
Massing is the architecture term for general shape, form and size of a structure.
It is generally held that architectural design begins by considering massing. From a distance, massing, more than any architectural detail, is what creates the most impact on the eye. Architectural details or ornaments may serve to reinforce or minimize massing. Because it has a direct relation to the visual impact a building makes, massing is one of the most important architectural design considerations.
Massing can be impacted by laws, codes, and regulations such as setback requirements and limits on height.
Massing also has an effect on building energy efficiency. A complex shape can present more opportunities for heat loss through the building envelope. Reducing the number of exterior walls, along with a low vertical surface area to floor area ratio (VFAR) decreases heat loss potential. .
Some architectural styles are closely associated with massing. For example, the Prairie School is always low and horizontal, while the Gothic style emphasizes verticality, and Georgian architecture focuses on solidity and a sense of permanence.
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