Okay, so I've got an old 16x32 baseplate lying around, and I am eyeing up the Assembly Square as a potential future purchase. But, of course, Assembly Square is 48 studs wide and won't properly fit into a layout that consists of standard 32x32s in a grid. There'd be a big gap. I don't much like that. 

So, I am giving serious thought to throwing together some spare parts and making an effort at building a MOC 16-wide Modular Building. 

My current plan is to see what I can do with the parts I already have, then once I have a working design, Bricklink (or some other method of ordering parts) whatever I need. 

But since this is my first time designing a major building, I know there are people with a lot more experience than I at things like this. So I want to know what sort of advice people can give a noob like me?

I’ve done a few modular style buildings in the same method as you, although I rarely get round to buying the bricks to keep them.

I start with an architectural style, and an idea of what business is going on the ground floor. This often determines if the first and second floors are linked or separate, for example, my current project is a Miami South Beach Art Deco style Hotel, which the ground floors invariably had a restaurant as well as reception.  Therefore the top two floors have to be linked to the ground floor main business. 

I then move on to the footprint, and build up from there, using photos as references. I tend to build the shell of the building first, and then adjust it to add in interior walls and features.  

try to give the front facade some extra details and textures by using different colors, modified bricks and some studs on the side construction.
the side and back walls don't need as much tought.

Edited September 1, 20186 yr by SollX

You could build a building similar to one of the halves in the Pet Shop. My recommendation with a small footprint would be to know exactly what you're aiming for, choose a building with personality and try to recreate it. San Francisco townhouses could work brilliantly, or look at central european houses (Berlin, Prague...), those can be brilliant, or maybe something from Amsterdam, ideal for a 16x32. I would really recommend choosing something that has a prominent architectural feature, eg. a special curve on the top floor and remember, the top floor defines the look of the building, work very hard on it! Just thought of it, you could have smaller buildings (even as small as 6-wide) with windows (similar to my Klee Corner)

Really nice popular architecture that's properly good in this great account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/arnimschulz/albums

I've built few modular MOCs myself. I found working of facade to be the most enjoyable. The sad truth is that you will have to spend 2-3 times more bricks (and money, if you are going to buy some) for the rest of the modular than just a facade. 

First of all, congrats to start MOCing a modular! Starting with a 16-studs wide is (in my opinion, of course) a perfect start.

If you want to use your spare parts, first thoroughly check what you have available all from door frames and windows, main bricks and slopes to all the tiny pieces making the facade stand out - pay attention to both color and count of pieces. Then, think about the architectural style that fits your layout the most. My prefered tools for scatching facades are LDD and/or hand-drawing on paper (I use a notebook with a small squared paper). Now, it's time you let your imagination go wild!

Also, if you merely want to fill up an empty space in the layout, you can build the front and back facades (connecting them with 16x16 baseplate) only to save some bucks and bricks.

BR, BarBee

1 hour ago, BarBee said:

First of all, congrats to start MOCing a modular! Starting with a 16-studs wide is (in my opinion, of course) a perfect start.

If you want to use your spare parts, first thoroughly check what you have available all from door frames and windows, main bricks and slopes to all the tiny pieces making the facade stand out - pay attention to both color and count of pieces. Then, think about the architectural style that fits your layout the most. My prefered tools for scatching facades are LDD and/or hand-drawing on paper (I use a notebook with a small squared paper). Now, it's time you let your imagination go wild!

Also, if you merely want to fill up an empty space in the layout, you can build the front and back facades (connecting them with 16x16 baseplate) only to save some bucks and bricks.

BR, BarBee

That's the idea, yes; save on bricks by not filling in the side walls. (The stud or two of extra space on the interior doesn't hurt, either)

Just in case anyone cares; I've finished the front facade and am in the process of building up the back. It's . . well, it looks alright, but I ended up using no less than eight large 1x4x6 window/door frames on the front alone. I'm not happy about that and I'm working on scrounging up enough parts to at least replace the two in the uppermost section (because the bottom floor needs the doors and windows, and while I'd obviously prefer to build up the middle floor more, the smooth finish with the printed panels from Ninjago 2011 is growing on me), but in the meantime. 

Since I designed it to go to the right of my modified, Modular-ised Sanctum Sanctorum (and the apartment building is in-set which makes it difficult to put it next to an official Modular without partly blocking the fire escape), I've set the facade two studs further back than on the official Modulars, and incorporated a sort of 'gradient' so that the upper two floors overhang the ground floor by one stud, with the exception of an exposed chimney on the left (designed to look like it was covered but has suffered wear and tear. (Actually, I also added a large, brick-built sign above the door to the ground floor grocery shop that hangs out even more.) 

The interior definitely needs a lot of work. So does the rear wall. And the roof. But for the time being, I'm satisfied enough with the appearance of the front - replacing large frames aside - that I've put it in my meagre little layout. 

Apologies for not providing pictures; Eurobricks doesn't like them. (That's definitely the only reason. I'm not embarrassed that my pitiful first attempt can't hope to measure up to the quality of the MOCs on this site or anything.)