In the firm we do monochromatic massing models in white foam core or museum board to get the general shape of the house worked out.
They are not finished models and are meant to be taken apart and reconstructed to test and try out different ideas. They are usually held together with pins or minimal dabs of glue and can become a pile of pieces if they get moved around and jostled too much after their useful life is past.
It is much easier to tell if the whole is working this way. The office once designed a house in 3D CADD and was very disappointed in the result, when it was modeled as a test. I was actually on maternity leave when it happened.
Since then they have always gone back to the tried and true massing model. We always try our best to convince the client of this important step. It doesn't mean we don't sketch or draw up ideas, but if time and money allow, it would never be considered finished if it didn't pass this crucial step. Reminds you of something doesn't it.
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