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

Okay... just ignore my post and don't post it in the  architecture thread :-P

so this truly is amazing! but I'd say that this is the wrong thread for it as it in no way is a modular (and inspiration could be anything...)

we have an architecture thread though don't we? I think putting this there would be a better idea, not just because it belongs there but also to "push" the thread up a little bit again.

Okay... just ignore my post and don't post it in the  architecture thread :-P

Truth is I had originally thought about posting the moc in the Architecture discussion topic seeing how the design style did fit on one hand but on the other that topic's main point mainly centers around real world locations over made up structures inspired by such styles. True that moc does not use the modular standards at all but there is potential. Perhaps if we had a special topic just for showing off the various styles in the world of architecture being represented through the medium of LEGO mocs, it could go there.

Lego Modular Used Book Store by SEBASTIAN-Z

Cloud Juice Bar by Gary Blatt

Garage with Mom & Pop Store by Palixa And The Bricks

Modular hotel by Andris Barkevičs

Tudor Style Photographer's - Custom Lego Modular Building

Jugendstil villa in modular style

If you think you are brave enough to dare, check out this sinister surprise.

666 Market Street by Aliencat!

Modular Bookstore Concept by Mike MacLeod

Art Deco Movie Theater by SEBASTIAN-Z

12 by oasisv JO

Had some blue and red from 31026-1 bike shop and don't think I'll sell it so I decided moccing it. The color corresponds well with the blue from the DO. The interior hasn't been done yet. Level floor will be bike shop. First and second floor a small studio with seperate bathroom.

The entrance to the appartments is via the back. Still need to build a stairs but this will be combined with another MOC building I build with the rest of the 31026-1 pieces. Also need to print some custom stickers for the windows of the shop and the plaque above the door.

P1010024 by oasisv JO

Based on a real life Odeon Theater and LEGO's own in the Town Plan set (from 2008), this expired Ideas submission has a nice art deco styling.

Odeon Theater

Manor House

Cafe Corner / City Park Cafe mashup

Street - New Orleans Style (Lego MOC) by SEBASTIAN-Z

wow just wow

 

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/legosjaak/

wow just wow

https://www.flickr.com/photos/legosjaak/

Now that's a town square. The chain railing is a nice touch.

Five Star Brick store by Yubnub!

wow just wow

 

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/legosjaak/

I can only imagine how much money is in there. Very impressing!

Modular medieval house inspired by set 1592

The Fishmaster by cimddwc

Villa Whiteout by birgburg

Pizzaria by Elephant-Knight