I Built My Dream House On A Lake!

Creating a 3D model of a dream house on the lake built of mud with two domes inspired by Hassan Fathy can be an exciting project that captures both traditional and sustainable design. Here's a step-by-step guide for building it in SketchUp:

Step 1: Set Up Your Workspace in SketchUp
Open SketchUp and set up your workspace. For architectural projects, use the Architectural template in meters or feet, depending on your preference.
Familiarize yourself with the toolbar and tools like Line, Push/Pull, Rectangle, Arc, and Offset.
Step 2: Create the Floor Plan
Use the Rectangle tool to outline the footprint of the house. Since it's a lake house, design it with proximity to the water's edge in mind.
Divide the space based on Fathy's architectural style, which often includes open, flowing spaces with a balance of communal and private areas.
Use the Line tool to sketch walls, windows, and entrances in the floor plan. Hassan Fathy often favored organic, simple layouts that mimic traditional forms.
Step 3: Build the Walls
Select the Push/Pull tool to extrude the walls up from your floor plan. Mud structures typically have thicker walls, so keep them sturdy and high for an authentic look.
Fathy's designs emphasize thermal mass, so create walls that are at least 30-40 cm (1-1.5 feet) thick for realism.
Step 4: Add Two Domes
Dome 1 (Main Dome):
Use the Circle tool to draw a circle on the roof for the first dome's base.
Select the Arc tool to draw the dome's shape. Click the center of the circle, draw the arc up to create the dome's curvature, and close the shape.
Use the Follow Me tool to drag the arc around the circle, forming a full dome.
Dome 2 (Secondary Dome):
Repeat the same steps but position this dome slightly offset or above another room, as a smaller, secondary dome.
Adjust the Push/Pull tool to set the heights and proportions.
Step 5: Create Arched Windows and Doors
Use the Arc tool to draw arches above doorways and windows, giving the structure that traditional, Middle Eastern-inspired look.
Hassan Fathy often used rounded openings to control natural light and ventilation, so place windows carefully to achieve this.
Use the Push/Pull tool to push these areas into the wall slightly, forming authentic arched recesses.
Step 6: Add Mud Texture to the Walls
Apply a textured material resembling mud or adobe to the walls. In SketchUp, open the Materials palette, search for natural or earth textures, or import your custom mud texture.
Apply this to all exterior walls to replicate the look of a natural, sustainable structure.
Step 7: Build the Roof
For an authentic feel, keep the roofline flat in areas without domes, and slightly sloped if you want to add drainage channels. Hassan Fathy's designs often include traditional, simple roofing solutions.
Use rectangles or planes above other rooms to form a flat or slightly sloped roof.
Step 8: Detail the Exterior
Fathy's structures include small, earthy details like wooden beams, decorative niches, and simple latticework. Add these by using the Line and Rectangle tools to build basic shapes and apply appropriate textures or colors.
Add window grills or wooden accents for authenticity.
Step 9: Create the Lake Environment
Use the Rectangle tool to form the ground plane around your house.
To create the lake, draw a large area with a water texture in the Materials library, placing it adjacent to the house.
Add vegetation or landscape elements, like small shrubs or trees, to simulate the natural surroundings.
Step 10: Lighting and Rendering
Adjust the Shadows settings to see how natural light interacts with the mud walls and domes throughout the day. Fathy's architecture embraces natural sunlight, so try to position your model to maximize morning or afternoon lighting.
Export views or render the scene if using SketchUp Pro's V-Ray plugin for added realism.
Step 11: Save and Export
Save your model frequently and export the final views to showcase your dream house by the lake.
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