Nofunk's BAT Thread

[nofunk 1,933]

Something new!

This will be wall-to-wall in both directions.

[jacqulina 162]

nice looking building my friend

[edmonton_stinks 5]

Cool! Is that a residential or an office?

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Hey, it's looking great so far.  

For the horizontal part above the Chicago windows, coming down from the windows the limestone is diagonal, and goes all the way to the columns, and then it looks like it comes back in and out again.  I can draw a picture if that doesn't make any sense.  I think that detail is important in how the rest of the building meets the base.

It also looks like the real columns are as deep as they are wide, meaning that your windows and spandrels should be pushed back deeper.  This will also give the depth the diagonal part needs to do what it does.

Your window sills also seem really big compared to the building's.

::sigh::  It makes me want to BAT something ornate, lol.

[Gn_leugim 853]

very good start friend

[parisinflames08 0]

The top reminds me ever so slightly of the Fyfe Building in Detroit.

A friend of mine just moved in to this place last week. The inside isn't all that special but the top of the building is great. Also the Metropolitan Building has a fairly ornate terra cotta top although its slowly falling to the ground.

[spa 968]

I like this one Nofunk. Looking forward to seeing where yo utake it.

[wolverine 12]

Originally posted by: parisinflames08 The top reminds me ever so slightly of the Fyfe Building in Detroit.

A friend of mine just moved in to this place last week. The inside isn't all that special but the top of the building is great. Also the Metropolitan Building has a fairly ornate terra cotta top although its slowly falling to the ground.quote>

It does have a lot similarities with the peaking crowns.  I went by the Metro building lately.  There's already chunks of the building on the ground :-(  I really hope they can save this one

[nofunk 1,933]

jacqulina: Thank you!

edmonton_stinks: I haven't decided yet. I'm pretty sure that it was a commercial building before it was demolished, but I think it would look good as a residential too. In the end, I'll probably release both.

Jasoncw: Thanks! I made the suggested changes, except I couldn't get the window sills changed. I instanced them all, but they aren't changing the way they should. I pushed them back, so I hope that makes a difference.

Gn_leugim: Thank you!

parisinflames08: The crown does look sort of like Fyfe! I love that building too, but Jasoncw expressed interest in modeling it in the past, so I'm keeping my hands off.

spa: Thanks, Sam!

wolverine: Shame to hear about the Metropolitan. I've always liked that building. I'd put it on my list of things to BAT, but I'm not sure its shape would work well in the game.

UPDATE

Here's the latest on the Hoffman Building:

I am still not sure what I'm going to do with the ground floor. In the photo it looks like all glass, and almost looks open like a fruit market or something. I might go that route, to add some interest to the streetscape in the game, but  I haven't decided yet. The back and side walls will be blank, but I'll make sure there are a few nice details to break up the blank walls.

This will be uploaded under the BSP.

[Odainsaker 2,134]

Omigosh, we see this not too soon after I have browsed through images of San Antonio's old Exchange Building, which today are now downtown apartments:



Yep, the resemblance is quite striking, but, of course, the type and pattern was common for the period.  Other views of the Exchange Building show the gothic revival facings and terra-cotta decorations carried around the corner to the other sides, but I like this view as it really contrasts the decorous facade with the fire escape.  I want an apartment studio on that top floor!

More importantly, while I can interpret that you are working your-sure-to-exquisite Hoffman Building from gathered photos, if for whatever reason you are at a loss for something on the narrower side, this might be of some inspiration.  The fire stairs may not quite work for a wall-to-wall setup, but you might consider infilling disused windows.  Similarly, here is a bit of the back showing how the window pattern shifts to accomodate the internal stairwell and service core:



I want that apartment up there.  Oh, and the Wolverine Hotel is going to end up in every one of my cities, hehe, great job!

[Jasoncw 11,840]

I suppose the photo should be shown.

I definitely think that the changes were an improvement, and I think the top is doing good too.

That's a nice building Odainsaker.  While I like terra cotta in general, I think that brick color goes well with it.  The building reminds me of the Tower Life Building.

[bigskelding 12]

Looks great so far, were was the real building located?

[Gn_leugim 853]

thta's a nice building.. and recreation too

[Swiss_Canadian 2]

Ooooh... I totally have to get out my sketchbook now.

[Gn_leugim 853]

you really like art deco.. at least much of your work (and at sanders project) is art deco.. although is not the type of buildings I look for they are very beauty =)

[nofunk 1,933]

Odainsaker: That's a gorgeous building! I definitely think I can use the Exchange Building as inspiration for the blank walls. I have only been able to find one reference photo (a postcard, in fact) of the Hofmann, so I'll have to think up something for the other walls.

bigskelding: The building was located on Woodward just north of I-75.

Gn_leugim: Thank you!

Swiss_Canadian: And what will you be sketching?

UPDATE

Just a few teaser shots before I start texturing the building:

I am still not 100% sure about what I plan to do with the base. I've left parts of the ground floor open for a reason: in the reference photo, it looks as though there is an open market on the ground floor, and I am strongly considering replicating this. If not, I will just box it in with more glass windows.

Also, some additional information on the Hofmann:

The Hofmann Building, designed by Louis Kamper, was constructed in 1924-1925. The 10-story structure stood at the corner of Woodward and Sibley, and had a terra cotta base, red brick shaft, and a gothic terra cotta top. In its later years, it was badly mutilated; its cornice and gothic details were completely stripped, making the building unrecognizable. It was finally demolished some time in the early 1980s.

(Also note: the original postcard has the building's name misspelled: it is actually "Hofmann" and not "Hoffman.")

[Swiss_Canadian 2]

Keep the open-air market; it fits in much better with the retail of the building's time. I sketch a lot of achitectural things - buildings, details, etc. If I had the time to learn how to BAT, you'd be able to see what I mean, but they're all just sketches.

Really looking forward to having this stately jewel in my cities!

[edmonton_stinks 5]

Yep, the building looks like open market stalls. Both would be good.

I'm sorry to hear about the Hofmann Building's sad fate. Hopefully it will be better taken care of when SC4-ized. It's looking great!

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

*eyebrow raised* Looks like a winner and its just a model so far! And I'm all for the open market, sounds like a lot of fun to see in SC4 in the middle of a city.

[Gn_leugim 853]

I also like more the open version.. hope you can replicate it.. and it's a shame we can get from simcity the second view you provide us =1 it looks awesome =)

[renemone 15]

good work.

[nofunk 1,933]

Just a little teaser for you guys!

Still to do:

+ roof junk

+ fire exit on back

+ open market

+ reinforced concrete details on blank walls

Any thoughts?

[CKDJ 0]

love it when do i get it lol

[WillG_75 19]

Looks fantastic!

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Hey! Looking good! lol

[jacqulina 162]

wow fantastic work there

[Gn_leugim 853]

fantastic!!!

[Swiss_Canadian 2]

It's guys like you who give the people at Maxis who made the original buildings for the game something to be ashamed of.

[ilikehotdogsalot 307]

Very nice! There aren't very many of these kinds of corrner buildings in the game and this one will be very useful! The textures and modeling look excellent

[spa 968]

Hey Nofunk. This one has been coming along quite nicely. I really like it and its nice that the details on the top show up, thanks to, from the looks of things, some carefully texturing. I have just one suggestion. I like the varied glass and the effect of light and dark is generally well done and something to aim for, but I think you need to brighten up the panes where it turns almost black. Specifcally, I'm looking at the second photo (side view) 5th floor right side. The front 3rd floor and front 9th could use some very minor brightening too.... but maybe its just me.