Introduction
Architectural rendering helps get a project off on the right footing. It is an essential aspect of the design phase and will assist clients in visualising the final product. Essentially, they will be able to see what options they have—depending on their budget. Moreover, they’ll get a feel for what works best for the building they are proposing and the setting in which it will stand.
What is architectural rendering?
Architectural rendering is all about photorealism. Using rendering software and the tools they provide, a designer can apply various finishes to all aspects of the build right there on the screen. Both exteriors and interiors can be planned in high detail. And along with it comes many benefits as well.
Benefits of rendering techniques in architectural design
It isn’t only private residential builds that benefit from detailed rendering techniques. Whatever the build type, using photorealistic visualisations will help produce an image of the final product that can assist in several ways.
Applying for planning permissions partly depends on how a building will fit with its surroundings. And removing any guesswork will cut down on delays and unnecessary costs for the architect, as they don’t need to continuously rethink their ideas. New finishes can be applied to the 3D model and presented with various options. It can also assist with marketing, as potential customers are more likely to commit to something that they can visually imagine.
Another key advantage to using architectural renderings is for diagnosing potential construction issues before you break ground. Experts can assess any obvious issues with the assistance of a life-like replica of the finished project. Again, this is worth its weight in gold, as changes to plans take time and money to achieve.
Architectural rendering techniques
There are many architectural rendering techniques that can be utilised to create the most realistic model. They each have their own benefits to bring to the table and are all worth considering. Some may not be necessary, depending on the project type. But having all of these tools available means that the possibilities are almost endless.
Virtual walkthroughs
It is one thing to see the exterior or interior of a build and how it nestles into its natural habitat, but without being there in person it can be difficult to imagine how it would feel to live or work there. Virtual tours of a building are a fantastic way to take clients to the site and feed their imaginations as they move step by step through the finished product. From a marketing sense, this is important, as clients need to form a sense of how a building will adapt to their everyday lives.
Visualising exteriors
It is difficult to fully appreciate how a building will blend in with the local area without seeing it there in front of you. Certain finishes don’t match the location in an aesthetic sense, and some roof types, for example, won’t blend seamlessly with the chosen landscape. It’s also possible that parts of a building may create access issues that are difficult to foresee until an image is put in front of you. Exterior visualisation removes any uncertainty before the project moves forward.
Interior visualisation
The inside of a building has the most effect on the lives of those that reside, visit or work there. It’s essential to know how decor and other finishes will interact with everyday life. Clients will find inspiration from 3D models of the interior that will help them make important decisions and it will, undoubtedly, help the project run smoother.
Ariel rendering
Images of a building from above are extremely beneficial to the design team, their clients and from a marketing perspective too. They are easier and faster to produce than other renderings and can give a glimpse of how things fit on the proposed site. It’s also great for assisting map creation to show scale compared to other buildings or natural features.
Finding the best architectural rendering software or plugin
There are many solutions on the market for designers to choose from. 3D model packages and rendering plugins all have the same common goal, but they achieve results in different ways. The decision of which rendering software to use will largely depend on two factors—budget and preference.
The cost of rendering programs will vary greatly and as the old adage goes, you get what you pay for. But top packages like V-Ray, for example, may not be necessary for your own needs. And designers may find that some software functions in a way that may seem more logical to them than others might.
Summary
There’s no way around it; if you want your designs to provide the very best architectural visualisation of a proposed project, then rendering is essential. It’s the only true way to fully envisage the finished product without actually building it, offering a critique, tearing it down and starting again. Obviously, that’s not going to happen, so the artform of rendering is a critical skill to master.
