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

Lego Modular Building: Microsoft Store by Palixa And The Bricks

Opening Night by WHBRICKS

So tempted to crack open another PC and build this looks excellent

https://www.flickr.com/photos/f0nix/sets/72157647831463510/

That Palace cinema combo is making me drool.. Looks very nice.  But for now it stays in the box.

 

So there is a HH right behind PC?

That's just two PCs combined, right? I'm not seeing any extra pieces for the exterior.

So there is a HH right behind PC?

It is, but it's a mod as well using two sets. I found a better image earlier, taken from a different angle, but I cant find it now.

Something like this

That's just two PCs combined, right? I'm not seeing any extra pieces for the exterior.

Yeah just twp PC's.

There was a description, but I cant find the page I was on.

He built the first one mirrored without the side wall, then built the other..

found it

found it

The modular modification to the Haunted House is very good. The original design could fit in before being a large-scale building but the 'dollhouse' setup in a street of modularized homes made it stick out more than the fearful facade did. Here the structure goes seamlessly with the rest of them on the street without really altering what the abandoned abode is all about. If anything this is like an answer to the "What if LEGO had released the Haunted House as a modular house?" question.

On one hand, I know I would like to make the same changes to my own Haunted House yet at the same time don't because of all the sets I have owned this is that perfect one I just love to have on display all year round.

The modular modification to the Haunted House is very good. The original design could fit in before being a large-scale building but the 'dollhouse' setup in a street of modularized homes made it stick out more than the fearful facade did. Here the structure goes seamlessly with the rest of them on the street without really altering what the abandoned abode is all about. If anything this is like an answer to the "What if LEGO had released the Haunted House as a modular house?" question.

On one hand, I know I would like to make the same changes to my own Haunted House yet at the same time don't because of all the sets I have owned this is that perfect one I just love to have on display all year round.

Yeah I agree, fits so well as a modular. I cant bring myself to open a new haunted house though, so will probably never be able to build it. Would love to find instructions, and brick link the extra parts. Like you, I'd like to display this all year with other modulars

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CASTLE-CONCERT-HALL-Custom-Instruction-Manual-10182-10190-Like-Modular-Set-LEGO-/231051232609?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35cbba0561

 

really wish they showed the inside

They do, scroll down the listing.

LEGO Modular Clothing Shop by BrickJonas

http://villageofjoy.com/50-strange-buildings-of-the-world/

first house in particular.

Edited July 5, 201510 yr by brickcrazyhouse

Modular Lego Bike Shop by Jason Skaare

never to early to start think about xmas

 

Edited July 6, 201510 yr by brickcrazyhouse

I am currently building the PS, finished apartment side.  I noticed that LEGO changed the fencing piece in the front.  Anyone else notice this?  The piece in the set is now slightly different than the one in the photo.

The modular modification to the Haunted House is very good. The original design could fit in before being a large-scale building but the 'dollhouse' setup in a street of modularized homes made it stick out more than the fearful facade did. Here the structure goes seamlessly with the rest of them on the street without really altering what the abandoned abode is all about. If anything this is like an answer to the "What if LEGO had released the Haunted House as a modular house?" question.

On one hand, I know I would like to make the same changes to my own Haunted House yet at the same time don't because of all the sets I have owned this is that perfect one I just love to have on display all year round.

HH needs a big hill at the end of the street...

though it would be intresting to build some burned out row homes (http://s179.photobucket.com/user/dtoronto/media/Philadelphia15.jpg.html) 

I mean what legit city does not have some?

HH needs a big hill at the end of the street...

though it would be intresting to build some burned out row homes (http://s179.photobucket.com/user/dtoronto/media/Philadelphia15.jpg.html) 

I mean what legit city does not have some?

got that covered http://ldd.us.lego.com/en-us/gallery?searchword=modular+house it's the "abandoned modular house" by monkeypheet

though it would be intresting to build some burned out row homes (http://s179.photobucket.com/user/dtoronto/media/Philadelphia15.jpg.html) 

I mean what legit city does not have some?

Next modular house scheduled for release....."The Slums". Ha. Come to think of it I wonder if one of the future designs will include a boarded up house as it would add a touch of realism.

LEGO Detective Agency MOD by Joseph Holp

What are people's thoughts on the Mocs without stairs between floors. It does make it a lot easier and free up some more space but does take anything away. When designing on ldd I always put stairs

For a change of pace, here by the lovely Kristel is a modular conversion review on the Kwik-E-Mart. While she does go over the main model including bag contents (good resource for that other topic), the main focus here are the different attempts made of turning the official set into a modular style house using only the parts featured (with the exception of two 1x2 Technic bricks). You won't find direct instructions on how to build any specifically though but I believe these make some great inspirations.

What are people's thoughts on the Mocs without stairs between floors. It does make it a lot easier and free up some more space but does take anything away. When designing on ldd I always put stairs

An alternative could be a simple ladder from one floor to the other. I know a handful of people who do not bother with furnishing the inside of a home if it is merely for display and/or you cannot see into the place all that well anyway but it feels odd to me having a house not filled in (unless it is meant to be abandoned or a rental property waiting for a tenant). Plus I enjoy the challenge each gives. I mean it was difficult but I did manage to come up with a two floor 'spite house' out of three Small Cottages which took all of a 8x16 space and it has a row of stairs.

There also is the revolving staircase that uses little room you see in a number of the official modular house sets.