Lab Assistant
#176 Old 23rd Sep 2016 at 8:51 PM
@kanzen - It looks a ruined church I might find in a forest (minus the parking lot, of course! lol). Like something from a fairy tale. Really gorgeous. Mine, however, is starting to look like something from an apocalyptic tale.

I live an hour and an half away from the Charlotte, NC riots that are going on right now, and I was thinking my church looks like something that you might find after a riot like that. Creeped me out when I woke up to the news of those this morning. I almost decided to change my direction.
Screenshots

AKA. Anora Acadian
Field Researcher
#177 Old 23rd Sep 2016 at 10:09 PM
I don't know about the news you are talking about @kerri191 but what I know is that I love the atmosphere of your screenshot.

I find amazing to see how different each of our lots are. This contest is going to be very interesting, there is so many nice building and decorating skills right here !

I share my CC here !
Mad Poster
#178 Old 23rd Sep 2016 at 10:19 PM
Does anyone else struggle with this style?
I have to say, I have learned more about Gothic revival and churches these past days than I have in the rest of my life (that is why I love building competitions )
Lab Assistant
#179 Old 23rd Sep 2016 at 10:26 PM Last edited by kerri191 : 23rd Sep 2016 at 10:42 PM.
@ JustPetro - I love these old Gothic churches. I struggle with building them, though. I've always wanted to do a lot like this (minus the grunginess), and I've attempted it many times. But I run into problems trying to vault my ceiling. I can't seem to figure out how to vault the ceiling without CC. It always ends up in the triangle effect from inside looking up. I'm leaving that last for that reason. I have some ideas, but....we'll see how that turns out.

AKA. Anora Acadian
Mad Poster
#180 Old 23rd Sep 2016 at 10:55 PM
It is hard. The entrance keeps looking like a dog house to me at the moment
Doing all the things, and *mostly* not failing.
retired moderator
Original Poster
#181 Old 23rd Sep 2016 at 11:07 PM
kerri et all, lots of creators have made ceiling beams or arch beams, that helps with the look, but honestly, for my church I just went with the underside of the roof, you don't have to do anything fancy to it, cept maybe make it white. I added a bunch of those MG ceiling beams to be cross supports, but nothing up there would work too.

After the contest is over, you can take your shell and un-renovate it back to what the church would have looked like originally.
Lab Assistant
#182 Old 23rd Sep 2016 at 11:28 PM
Quote: Originally posted by Phaenoh
kerri et all, lots of creators have made ceiling beams or arch beams, that helps with the look, but honestly, for my church I just went with the underside of the roof, you don't have to do anything fancy to it, cept maybe make it white. I added a bunch of those MG ceiling beams to be cross supports, but nothing up there would work too.

After the contest is over, you can take your shell and un-renovate it back to what the church would have looked like originally.


@Phaenoh - Oh, I'm keeping this thing for sure! I saved the original non-grungy lot as a separate lot (instead of having take out all the grunge for the reno round) before I started shabbying it up. And thanks for those links! They should help.

AKA. Anora Acadian
Scholar
#183 Old 23rd Sep 2016 at 11:33 PM
Quote: Originally posted by Justpetro
It is hard. The entrance keeps looking like a dog house to me at the moment


I'm still convinced that mine always seems to look more like a 1900s Southern Baptist church. Anyway, here's the roughed-out shell of St. William's 3.0... I am so done with starting over from scratch! My Sims 2 building skills have gone downhill in the years since Sims 4 came out, clearly. CFE has been eating me alive for the last week.

As mentioned earlier, I attempted to stylify my own home church building (a product of the original church members' hard labours in the 1960s-ish). While I'm not sure if I succeeded or not, the floor plans from basement to most of the second level is relatively faithful to the current building. The original addition (a portable that was revamped in the early 2000s to become a part of the building) was repurposed into the bell tower. The newest addition uses the same purpose in the simmish version as the administrative offices and pastoral offices, as well as a newer kitchen and bathroom for the building's current use as a community space during the week (our congregation outgrew this building in the late 90s, early 00s, so we don't use it for Sunday services anymore).

So, long story short, my RL church really does have four bathrooms and two kitchens. It's convenient for the children's Christmas drama productions... The rooms have long since been repurposed in various forms in the 20 or so years I've been at this church, hence why I'm still not cemented on each one's purpose. I figured a variety of upgrades/repurposings/additions wouldn't be unusual for an older building that may have been used up until whatever number of years ago.

Maybe I'm being too realistic now.
Doing all the things, and *mostly* not failing.
retired moderator
Original Poster
#184 Old 24th Sep 2016 at 1:31 AM
Forever, this church shows some promise. Ditch the brick area in the front, make it a garden or something, it just sticks out and seems weird. Put another level on your bell tower and make the roof super *super* tall. Take the balcony off the back, and put a large rose window back there instead. Your buttresses are neat, but that's exactly where the windows *don't* go, try putting the windows between them instead. Try using a darker brick and leave the lighter color on your buttresses. Remove the floor above the sanctuary, you've got plenty of space without it, and it's not part of the architecture style. If you replace the two windows above the front with a single round window that should help too, you could also add another single tile single floor jut out for the front door to add detail.
Mad Poster
#185 Old 24th Sep 2016 at 1:35 AM
After several attempts... I think I might have the beginnings of something appropriate now. I kept trying to build Notre Dame.

I decided to "go with what I know" - and that is a sweet little church that hubs and I served in: Woodlawn/Beechfork UMC up in Bardstown, Ky. It was built in the early 1800's, and added on to in the 1940's.

So here is the first peek at Our Lady of Perpetual Simation - I don't have any interior shots, and it's not grungified yet. There is a basement (thats where the Fellowship Hall and kitchen are.)
Disregard the front door please, that is just a placeholder - I gotta find where I put K8's double Fairytale Romance door... *sigh*

Will this work?
I hope you restocked Petro - I'm thirsty!
Screenshots

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retired moderator
#186 Old 24th Sep 2016 at 3:16 AM
This what I have so far. It's not grungified and I don't have interior shots atm. Just thought I'd throw this one I did have up.



The little window above the big rose window's been replaced with a statue alcove but other than that, this is what I have.
Screenshots
Forum Resident
#187 Old 24th Sep 2016 at 3:22 AM
@kerri191 aww thanks :3 most abandoned places in my city tend to turn into mini gardens with all the overgrowth since people almost never trespass in them.
Since it's a small chapel, I thought the community was so tight they would never dare desecrate it.....like those folks who get angry when you demolish a period home for a new set of townhouses...
Scholar
#188 Old 24th Sep 2016 at 3:48 AM
Awright.... I need to go on the hunt for a big circular window piece (I have none of these, and it seems like a glaring gap in my CC collection right now), but here's the final draft before grungifying/detailing...
Screenshots
Doing all the things, and *mostly* not failing.
retired moderator
Original Poster
#189 Old 24th Sep 2016 at 5:56 AM
Catherine, your example church is spot on, good call to go with what you know! I'm a little concerned how small your church is, you might want to add a second story to your addition. Actually, adding a level to everything wouldn't hurt.

jones, your church is also spot on with the style, keep going! The proportions on the bell tower seem a little off, you might try shrinking it to a 4x4 tower and putting two of those skinny windows next to each other on each level. I love the CC buttresses you found, and those windows are awesome.

Forever, this is starting to shape up nicely! Your tower is still over powering the church, and its too short and fat, so maybe shrink it a tile? Are you at the level limit and unable to place a real roof on top? Your previous front facade was better. I was trying to suggest something like this instead. Disregard everything in this photo EXCEPT how the door is treated.
Alchemist
#190 Old 24th Sep 2016 at 9:50 AM
Ok, so Im not happy with turning in something that dosnt cut it, so I have my 4th and final plan!
It is on the correct lot size, and it should be the correct style since its modelled after the CHC Cathedral, just on a smaller scale!
This is just for the floor plan to get the thing to pass the mark, I havnt added any buttressess or parking or anything yet.
But here goes nothing (fingers toes and eyes are all crossed in the hope!)
Screenshots

Rome wasn't built in a day

Need help finding building items, check out my building blog https://bestbuilditems4sims2.wordpress.com/
Mad Poster
#191 Old 24th Sep 2016 at 11:40 AM
Cat - Yes, of course the bar is stocked! How do you know me?
You are all going well - me, I am still stuck in the basement (at the juice bar).
Scholar
#192 Old 24th Sep 2016 at 3:19 PM Last edited by ForeverCamp : 24th Sep 2016 at 5:09 PM. Reason: Attaching photos
Quote: Originally posted by Phaenoh
Forever, this is starting to shape up nicely! Your tower is still over powering the church, and its too short and fat, so maybe shrink it a tile? Are you at the level limit and unable to place a real roof on top? Your previous front facade was better. I was trying to suggest something like this instead. Disregard everything in this photo EXCEPT how the door is treated.


*sigh* As it turns out as I go in-game this morning, when my game crashed upon save/close last night, it neglected to save ANY of my changes. Makes it mildly easier to accommodate the changes needed to the basement due to the footprint of the main level changing, I suppose...

[10:08 CST] Pics below.
Scholar
#193 Old 24th Sep 2016 at 5:22 PM
So I go into a new lot next door to mess around with a cemetery for background purposes... and apparently my church sits in the middle of a pond!

This is what I didn't miss about building in TS2. Pass the house's juice special please!
Constant Contestant
retired moderator
#194 Old 24th Sep 2016 at 5:42 PM
Here's my attempt. It's not grungified and my game is now playing up!

Want a specific style of house or community building? Why not take a look at my profile and see what I build and then come ask me to make it!
Field Researcher
#195 Old 24th Sep 2016 at 5:55 PM
I think I'm not comfortable with grungyfying things, this is what takes me the most of my time and I'm never happy with it, except maybe for that sanctuary occupied by homeless Sims. Well. Tonight will be the night, I have nothing to do tomorrow so I think I won't sleep until I finish it !
Screenshots

I share my CC here !
Mad Poster
#196 Old 24th Sep 2016 at 11:39 PM
AAAARRRGGH!!!! Five hours - GONE!!! *crash*
My game just crashed - after 5 grueling hours of structural changes *waaaaah*

- Thanks, Petro...

Please ~ support my TS2 habit! Shop at my Etsy shops:
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retired moderator
#197 Old 25th Sep 2016 at 12:20 AM
Cat, you didn't save in all of 5 hours! Commiserations, but please remember to save. I try to every half hour.

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown
~Call me Jo~
Field Researcher
#198 Old 25th Sep 2016 at 2:19 AM
I have continued building my church - with better windows, finally! I didn't know what to put in the community room, so I left it blank for now.
The church is not yet grungified, but is it too bland? I mean, it's basically wood and white stucco everywhere.
I made an addition (it's where the nursery is located at), but I'm not sure if it's good.
Screenshots
Doing all the things, and *mostly* not failing.
retired moderator
Original Poster
#199 Old 25th Sep 2016 at 3:57 AM
So I'm entirely brain dead from my exhausting day, but I wanted to check in with you all! Reminder: to submit for city inspection, I only need a front view and your floor plans. You CAN pass inspection being the wrong style entirely. All of my styling suggestions are merely suggestions to help you get the style right if you want to, that being said, NO ONE is judging on how well you execute the style, so if you don't like one of my suggestions, just *ignore* it!

ekrubynaffit, your church is looking great! You found the right style! You are a bit short of space right now, but I think if you put in a basement, you'd be set to pass. Suggestion for architecture: your bell tower seems very wide compared to the height of your church. You could shrink it by a tile, and/or also make your church roof steeper.

ForeverCamp, I'm sorry you lost your all your work, but it did you a big favor, when I clicked on your first photo I literally gasped at the remarkable improvement in your church! Your proportions are right, the colors are great, the windows and doors are in good spots. (You received a passing inspection last round, and this still passes.) Suggestion for improved styling: remove that line of roof that cuts in the back right above your rose window and put the window up another level.

Karen, your church looks great too! Yours is actually more of a mix of romansque and gothic, but it's in the ballpark so that's all we need. Much of what is causing that feeling is the fact that your bell tower is centered. Your layout is a bit strange with the sunday school rooms being up and in the front, but since you aren't above the sanctuary, I'm going to allow it. Your floor plan has enough space to pass City Inspection. Your offices are in an awkward place, and the reception area is meant to connect the two offices, so your vestibule can't be it. (This is a required room, so the judges may ding you for it.) Suggestion on how to resolve this issue: Your community room is much larger than it needs to be, so you could put your kitchen and nursery down there and use your addition for your offices and reception. I honestly can't think of what your two alter side rooms could be. Maybe do away with them all together and widen your alter area and put in chairs for a choir? Leave them as private meditation/prayer rooms?

xmathyx, holy cow your stuff just keeps looking amazing! I'm glad I'm not doing any qualitative judging, because that means I'm allowed to just drool over your awesome images.

PanAm103, your church's layout also has enough space, so you have also passed City Inspection! You have also landed in the ballpark of architecture style with your church, so good job there! You are required to have at least 2 sunday school rooms, so maybe draw a wall down the middle of your one very large room (or take a possible point hit from the judges). Suggestions to improve on your architectural styling: your front feels a bit empty and plain. Try using a different colored wall stone on your bottom level and on your buttresses and on the inside of your front alcove. Or maybe use that stone wallpaper that has the lighter colored pavers (quoining) on the edges? Your nursery addition would be better suited coming off from the middle to make your church a T shape, or L shape. It would also be more traditional if you switched your bathrooms to the front spaces created by your recessed door (or remove them all together), vestibules tend to be long and thin and straight. I'd also suggest the 2 story columns for inside your sanctuary, which also feels very empty. You might get more flexibility if you moved your kitchen to the side with the sunday school rooms, so you'll have a larger square room next round.

By my count we have 6 churches with passing City Inspections and 4 who have not submitted anything, and 3 who are very nearly passed (jones, ekrubynaffit, and CatherineTCJD) so we are quite literally at the halfway mark! Awesomesauce everyone! Jones, I'm missing floor plans from you but from what I saw I think you should be good, and ekrubynaffit, you pretty much just need a basement for more space. CatherineTCJD you prolly just need an extra floor and basement, but I need your floor plans to be sure.

Keep on simming! Reminder, your church shells will be due for judging on Monday Oct 3, and the next shell round starts this Monday, Sept 26. I am 100% confident that the next shell WILL be easier. I honestly should have started with that one instead. >.< Hang on everyone, we'll get through this!
Blenderized to Pieces
retired moderator
#200 Old 25th Sep 2016 at 5:29 AM
lol. I don't think I qualify since I came in at 10th place in the foundation contest. lol.. Most of my building skills are in residential with a lot of CFE. Here is a Sims 4 apartment complex with ground floor shops. http://modthesims.info/download.php?t=580621

This is Sid's Hideout for Sims 2. It's supposed to be a somewhat gaudy/seedy Motel/restaurant/gaming/nightspot with hourly room rates. http://modthesims.info/download.php?t=353280

Is it too late for the church shells?
 
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