Inspired after reading siddji's topic of Best Site for MOC Modular step by step creations?, I thought it would be a good idea to have a topic listing some great resources to not only help anyone wanting to design their own modular style houses but also inspire a few ideas as well. Anyway, I came across this simple guide from Eurobricks listing the basics of how to generally get started.

How-To: Modular Buildings
by Aliencat

We regularly see each other at meetings and bring along a construction or two of our own. An ideal standard for combining buildings is the so-called Café Corner Modular Standard (or CCMS for short). Now if you don't own a Cafe Corner, Green Grocer, etcetera, how do you know what rules to follow when making your building fit in with the rest? I will describe the CCMS as applied in Lego's sets and as applied by many fans. There are basically two types of building in this standard.

1. Straight sections

Generally speaking every baseplate is 32 studs deep. The width is variable with straight buildings, always being a multiple of 8 studs. A common used width is 16 studs wide. The connection points, pavement, walls, etcetera, will then have the following sizes:

Whether your building is 8 or 64 studs wide, the sizes in depth are always the same. That way the Technic bricks with a hole will always align and allow for the buildings to be attached to one another through the use of Technic pins.

2. Corner buildings

In the case of a corner building, you are dealing with two connecting points at a 90 degree angle of each other. Therefore, your baseplate will always have to be 32 x 32 studs. Of course you can make the full building larger by attaching straight buildings forming a continuous whole at either side but the corner module must be 32 x 32:

3. Variation in depth sizes

If you look at a real-life (old) street, you will see that not all buildings align in a perfectly straight line: some jut out a bit while others fall a little further back. If you put a number of CCMS buildings in a row, this method of alignment will give you the best result. As long as you leave the Technic bricks in the right position for connecting, you're free to place your front and back wall at will. This might result in something like this:

Keep the variation in mind, because of your side wall. In some cases, part of your side wall will be visible. So if you were planning to omit your side wall, or make one out of all the colors you won't be needing for the front and back walls, make sure that at least the edge of the side wall that juts out is made of a color that fits with the rest of the building.

I myself always build an entire side wall if I know the building is going to end up in a combined layout with other builders because you don't quite know what will end up next to you. For all you know you might end up next to a construction side, leaving your side wall entirely exposed.

4. Height

The last point I wish to address is height. In terms of height, you are basically free to do whatever you want. Make it as tall or as low as you wish. One floor 6 bricks high, eight floors 12 bricks high each, everything is possible. Do keep in mind though, that if you're making a very tall building, your side walls will definitely be visible. So make it into something exciting featuring windows or something, so it's not just one boring, flat wall. Do take care that you won't have anything protruding over the edges, since you may not know how high the building next to yours might be.

Variation in height is another reason to build side walls in a matching color when your creation will end up in a combined layout: the building next to yours might be very low and you won't know ahead of time.

Resources:

• Eurobricks
• Brickhamster

Yeah, he/she's an excellent MOCer. I love his California hotel, and the scale which he can approach things is amazing.

I think Snaillad is a guy going by his profile page on flickr, and his Cocoa Hotel is absolutely gorgeous.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52656812@N04/sets/72157633159446328/

Sabriyo's Custom Constructions - this guy has some pretty nice stuff:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Lego-Modular-Building-Apartment-and-Bar-10185-10182-10211-/271355690090?pt=Building_Toys_US&hash=item3f2e0f3c6a

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Lego-Modular-Building-Hospital-Corner-Medical-Center-10185-10182-10211-/271355684500?pt=Building_Toys_US&hash=item3f2e0f2694

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-lego-city-modular-building-instructions-/270705631312?pt=Building_Toys_US&hash=item3f07502050

Sabriyo's Custom Constructions - this guy has some pretty nice stuff:

I've come across his listings before and must say he has come up with some interestingly intricate fascades although the interiors seem a bit lacking.

For anyone wishing to turn the Palace Cinema into a straight section should check this MOD out.

After taking a more thorough look through JANGBRiCKS channel, I came across these nice little venues for his custom cityscape. Honestly, it didn't even cross my mind to build a house using a small 16x16 area but I must say these did stick out for me with all their tiny details.

 

Hut's Pizza Parlor

Mystic Gem Store

I'm going to go ahead and bookmark this for later.

cool thanks for the post. i might have to try to build one myself some day!

Vicky's Coffee & Tea by fujiia

Adding some on-topic MOCs, here are a couple of modular pizza parlors I found. (I was just in the mood for pizza. )

 

Pizza Place by jskaare

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47579011@N00/sets/72157633153885384/

Luigi's Pizzeria by Jameson42

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jameson42/sets/72157623191074571/

Pizza & Bike Shop by nucleon

What's with the naked guy getting arrested lol

I was originally going to go on here and post the question of had anyone actually tried building the inspirational model shown in the back of the original instruction manual but after some heavy browsing I found this Brickshelf Gallery, a Eurobricks thread with an LDD file, and someone else's own alternative MOC. Actually, I still feel like asking has anyone tried building this at all if anything just to see how it would look in their own city. Soooo ....have you?

 

Looks really nice.  Any modular street MOC usually needs more housing/residences.  Can't wait to eventually get a couple Petshops and attempt to change the frontage a bit and experiment.   

 

*I'm not a builder so haven't done any big sets or modulars...GE will be my first 'big' build soon. 

This is a "must have", wouldn't you say?

 

 

It's just sad this is "just" a MOC. So far.

no horses?????? :w00t:

 

It does look rather nice btw.. too "pinky" for my own taste

Rise from your grave! Been a while since I saw this beauty. On a semi related note, I thought about turning the Downtown Bakery into an actual corner modular similar to this. Actually, I thought about turning each of the Friends stores into their own little modular. I've been in a 'modular mood' as of late. Ha.

That actually looks pretty cool, but it is a little overwhelming with the pinks and purples.  If you look at the High School or Olivia's House, there's a lot more white and tan in the mix.

 

I've considering doing the Haunted House in "Friends" style.  Could be interesting, if done right.

The same person who did the straight section modified Palace Cinema was also behind these 7346 Seaside House and 60047 Police Station turned modular MOCs. Darn, he beat me to modularizing the Seaside House but then again I do have something different in mind for my idea. The Police Station may not look so good beside the official modular sets but I must say it fits nicely with more modern designs.

 

7346 Seaside House modular MOD

http://www.flickr.com/photos/106014156@N08/sets/72157639928609695/

60047 Police Station MOD

http://www.flickr.com/photos/106014156@N08/sets/72157644947118652/

7346 Seaside House modular MOD

Do you know if he only used the bricks of one set for the 7346 ?

I love the alternate versions of sets, only using bricks which are included.

Do you know if he only used the bricks of one set for the 7346 ?

I remember when he posted the topic on Eurobricks, he said he mainly used the pieces from the two sets he purchased plus an additional hundred or so parts between more medium blue bricks, various tiles, red slopes for the roof, and bits for the furnishings.

 

I used the two sets and about 100 additional medium blue bricks (1x1, 1x2 and 1x4), lots of tiles, the parts for the interior and additional red slopes for the roof.

I love the alternate versions of sets, only using bricks which are included.

I personally enjoy the challenge of creating an alternate design and know a couple people on Eurobricks who are pretty good at that. You may have already seen my combination alternate of the Log Cabin using three of the set and only the parts included. Now I am going for something using three or four of the Seaside House. I already came up with a design using three of the Small Cottage but I only have two of that set at the moment.

Thanks. Too bad it uses several sets.

I like the challenge of creating an alternate version with one single set, because it can easily be shared with everyone. =)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paultox/sets/72157639792373195/

Bakkerij Groeneveld by Paul Toxopeus on flickr

Where do ordinary minifigs buy those delectable, collectable accessories? Why, at the Modular Maison, of course!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24166730@N07/sets/72157629181908871/

Here is a nice medieval themed modular build. Yep, I'm back on the modular horse again. Then again, when did I ever get off?

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25309284@N02/sets/72157627867696261/

Here is another oldie (2010) but, man, this is sweet.

Eurobricks History Bricks

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris_kelvin/sets/72157623440380371/

Here is a nice medieval themed modular build. Yep, I'm back on the modular horse again. Then again, when did I ever get off?

Release this set in my country or in germany, and it will be a success.

This is the same kind of house we have in north-east (region Alsace).