@danamo - thanks for the input - you are right about the 'organic' look. this, however, will be very difficult to achieve when collaborating. the only way to do this in this case is when somebody draws 3 or 4 houses at the same time as a unit and takes care that the ends are straight and square so that an other builder knows where to start. difference in depth and height are not a problem at all and leaning forward of some houses, which is very common, is no problem anyway.

an other possibility: slight differences could also be corrected when drawing the last house in a row, or by adding a porch somewhere in between. very small alleys could do the same (these old towns have alleys as small as 1,5 to 2 metres)

in sketchup, which is the only 3d prog i can use the possibilty of getting a mellowed look is for the greater part only in the textures.

"The light at the end of the tunnel may be an oncoming train"