Zoning in 3d

This is a good example of how a simple 3d diagram was able to tell a much more nuanced story than simply stating some numbers.

A few years ago I was working on a project where the maximum height allowed for the block was 49 meters at the west side, stepping down to 31 meters at the east side. our proposal had a height of 55 meters at the west and 46 meters at the east. At face value this seems to suggest we're overbuilding on this site, create a more imposing massing to the streetscape. looking at it in 3d however, paints a very different picture, with strategically placed setbacks and architectural articulation of the massing it becomes clear that the proposed massing creates a more appropriately scaled building than if we had followed the letter of the zoning envelope.

The yellow massing/red lines indicate the allowed zoning envelope. green indicates our proposal.