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Conventional architectural visualization services relied heavily (if not entirely) on two-dimensional representations of buildings, structures, and objects. It started as blueprints on paper before the proliferation of CAD, where architectural plans were drafted on screen and preserved in digital formats. However, even in digital formats that typically allow for basic interactivity via a computer, the 2D visualization still comes with noticeable limitations. Although you can click on the shapes, icons, or any portion of the imagery to summon annotations or a close-up view, it remains pretty difficult, especially for non-professionals, to get a grasp of the spatial relationship of a plan or perhaps understand the design at all. The vast majority of people are used to seeing houses, furniture pieces, bridges, a kitchen, or just about everything that forms a structure as 3D objects in the real world. A 2D representation of an architectural project lacks the realistic effect to mimic what people expect to see.
While 2D visualization remains the standard today, the last several decades have seen major developments in 3D CAD software, which allows for more realistic modeling of architectural projects. The industry is admittedly still in a transitory period before it fully embraces 3D modeling and rendering across the workflow, but the future certainly looks bright for faster and quicker adoption.
Recent technologies such as VR/AR (virtual reality and augmented reality), holographic projections, and large-screen CGI walkthroughs have proven themselves more than capable of delivering immersive design experiences for AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) companies and clients alike. For the professionals, advanced 3D CAD software can help improve their chances of creating realistic, accurate models with precision; at the same time, those interactive devices/technologies make immersion an easier feat to achieve.
The term “immersion” in this case can be described as the result of a viewer’s sense of presence and participation within the visualization space. It involves the combined works of auditory, optical, tactile, and sometimes motion stimulations to evoke the perception that the viewer is pretty much an integral part of the visualization. The use of AR/VR, holographic projection, and other mixed reality devices can transform 3D architectural models into a hyper-realistic visual environment that triggers an immersive experience. All those technologies have now reached a stage of enough maturity for practical implementation in the architectural industry at large.
But an immersive design experience doesn’t just happen. It takes some great skills at 3D modeling (and often rendering) along with a working knowledge of architectural design services to create an accurate and actually effective visualization. Cad Crowd, a freelancing platform built for professionals in the design and AEC industry, is home to hundreds of thousands of skillful CAD and CGI talents to help you build an immersive design experience for architectural projects big and small.
🚀 Table of contents
Photorealistic visualization is impossible without accurate 3D modeling. Every architectural render starts as a collection of 3D models, created to represent the geometry of objects with great accuracy. Rendering involves the transformation of those 3D models into realistic imagery with the addition of colors, surface textures, and lighting effects. All renders also require post-processing touches, which may involve a range of adjustments to contrast, brightness, saturation, and so forth. In general, architectural visualization needs advanced computer graphics software and proper implementation of image processing methods to represent shapes and forms in such a way that’s easily perceptible, recognizable, and comfortable for human viewing.
Although some portions of the visualization are about artistry, it actually takes a great deal of design know-how to create effective imagery. Architectural visualization is supposed to be a digital twin of the actual design, meaning every object you see in the image must be an accurate representation of its real-world counterpart. Raw data pertaining to object material characteristics and geometry are processed, then transformed into a visual representation. For example, an image of a wooden desk is created based on the actual specification of the same object in real life, including the dimensions, material, and surface finish. If the desk is supposed to have a shiny lacquer on the surface, the visualization has to mimic all its characteristics, down to how it reflects and refracts light. Such a realism effect is expected to facilitate a better understanding of how the desk looks and feels as it’s positioned relative to other objects.
That being said, a full-scale rendering might not be the most effective way to conceive, review, and refine architectural designs. A rendering essentially changes the 3D models into either a static or animated visualization, which offers limited adjustment options. Real-time high definition rendering services can be the answer; each time a viewer interacts with the model in any way, the render engine kicks in to calibrate the image frame-by-frame in split seconds to the point where the automatic adjustments appear very smooth. Because it’s a hardware-demanding interactive application, not to mention the monumental effort required to create it in the first place, only a small fraction of the industry uses the method, especially during the design process. That being said, real-time rendering shows a big promise to take the immersive experience to the next level.
An architectural design process typically involves a lot of experimentation with various elements, geometries, and structural configurations. If the purpose of the models is primarily to facilitate practical design exploration, a collection of simple (yet geometrically accurate) 3D models is the way to go for speed and efficiency. The visualization might not be in UHD resolution or covered in colorful details, but it’s still a huge leap from the traditional 2D drafts.
Make no mistake, the standard language for architectural design firms has been two-dimensional plans. Most, if not all, architects all around the world rely on orthographic projections (whether on physical sheets of paper or digital pages) to visualize and communicate design ideas. These projections remain the universally-approved technical construction documents, thanks to their proven accuracy and practicality. During an actual construction, the documents also serve as instruction manuals for contractors on how to build and assemble things. Orthographic projections may look clear and easily decipherable to professionals, but only because they’ve developed the cognitive ability to perform a complex mental translation. When builders see a line that represents a wall, they can mentally extrude the wall and make an educated guess on how it connects with other structural elements.
But in a design process that involves typical clients, there might be a cognitive gap that leads to misunderstanding and different sets of expectations. The use of 3D modeling and rendering removes such a barrier. Instead of relying on mental interpretation of lines, shapes, symbols, and icons in two-dimensional diagrams, the clients see the proposed design as if they’re looking at photographs of a finished design, when in reality nothing is physically built yet. They’re released from the burden of having to develop the ability to visualize a design from an orthographic projection. The clients can perceive the design in the way humans are meant to see the world. Architectural plans suddenly become much less technical and more empirical.
Immersive design experience happens not only because of powerful image processing and high resolution. 3D modeling (and rendering) can bring out the sense of true immersion in many different ways, some of which are briefly outlined below.
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The world of architectural visualization understands that “believability” forms the very foundation of immersive experience. And this believability comes into existence thanks to the support of three massive pillars: geometry, lighting, and texture. As previously mentioned, proper 3D modeling design services take the raw architectural data of an object’s specification and turn it into a visual representation. Since everything is based on the actual specification sheet, the model is accurate down to the tiniest details. The geometry is correct, meaning the shape and form of the object mimics its real-world counterpart.
For instance, in a traditional 2D architectural draft, an outer wall of a structure is represented by a relatively simple, thick line. But in modern 3D modeling, a wall should appear like the real thing with proper thickness and height. To elevate the degree of realism further, BIM software can give the wall physical properties (such as load-bearing capacity) based on its material composition. The same thing applies to every other structural component and object. BIM models are inherently interactive, with loads of features and options to analyze the structure and make modifications in real-time. If the change is profound enough to affect the entire model, BIM will do the calculation and adjustments automatically as well.
Architecture professionals can leverage BIM to develop an immersive model where they can experiment with multiple design options on a computer screen while maintaining specification accuracy. The clients can also appreciate how easy it is to see and understand every single architectural element that makes up the design as a whole. As useful as BIM is to architects and engineers, however, it might not deliver enough believability to be considered photorealistic, and this is where rendering comes in to add textures and lighting to the equation. High-quality rendering makes a model appear like a photograph (or a video in an animated render) despite the fact that the design is yet to be materialized.
From the perspective of practicality, immersive 3D models make for an excellent language to bridge communication between the professionals and the clients. Architectural design experts, engineers, designers, and contractors have no problems sharing ideas and discussing construction methods over 2D drafts, but clients might be left out for the most part simply because it’s difficult to make sense of the traditional blueprints. Visualization by 3D models, especially within the BIM framework, can cut through such barriers and keep everyone on the same page throughout every instance of design discussion.
BIM is inherently an immersive data environment, wrapped in an easy-to-understand visual representation. It allows you to see not only the superficial details of an architectural design but also delve deep into the nitty-gritty of the project. For instance, BIM visualization enables a “fly-through” of the HVAC ducts, the plumbing pipes, the electrical conduits, and the crawl space, and allows one to see how everything interacts with each other. It’s also possible to see the planned rebar configuration, roof frame, fire egress, the floor installation, and more. BIM probably isn’t as photorealistic as a full-blown render, but certainly more than immersive enough for design exploration purposes.
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It’s common knowledge that quality rendering can only happen when you have accurate 3D modeling, and the result is a photorealistic visualization that depicts an architectural design in detail. Precise representation is the goal, but it’s not the only purpose. One of the underlying intentions of photorealistic imagery is to frame a narrative in the hope of evoking emotional responses from the audience. Because much of it depends on visual treatments, even static visualization will do, although animated rendering can do a better job.
Rendering for immersion puts a heavy emphasis on how a person realistically expects to experience a space. For instance, a rendering of a kitchen can use a little bit of clutter on the countertop, droplets of water in the sink, a drawer that isn’t fully closed to reveal some cutlery, and so forth. This technique is applicable to any room, even for exterior rendering. Small imperfections are subtle yet effective storytelling tools to say that the place is lived-in and filled with human touches, bringing the audience to voluntarily place themselves in the visualized space and be part of the scene. It’s an example of a psychological immersion, triggered by the context and atmosphere of the imagery.
Sometimes a 3D render artist uses non-architectural elements like weather conditions (snow, rain, bright summer night, etc.), people, cars, busy roads, or perhaps the landscape to simulate an environment. The idea is to let the audience imagine themselves living in the visualized space and connect to the architectural design at an emotional level.
High-end photorealistic rendering, whether static or animated, promises an easy gateway to understanding architectural design. The lifelike imagery is an accurate representation of the project, so at least you get to see what the finished building is supposed to look like way ahead of schedule. And if it is an interactive BIM, the visualization is typically completed long before construction starts to afford enough time for review, analysis, and modification if required. BIM is a data-rich visualization, but as far as immersive experience is concerned, AR and VR are still the best two options.
Augmented Reality projects a virtual environment and adds it to the real world (like Pokémon Go), whereas Virtual Reality completely replaces the real-world experience with a digital space (as in Microsoft Flight Simulator). Within the context of architectural visualization, AR/VR opens the door to a space where you can make yourself part of the experience and explore the design as a whole. It can be as interactive as you want, too. For instance, a VR architectural walkthrough may feature a game-like interactivity level that allows you to change wall paint, move the furniture, pick up the remote and turn on the stereo, open/close the doors and windows, replace flooring materials, modify the patterns on the upholstery, visualize the airflow, check the ambient temperature, and more. Think of it as playing a video game using a head-mounted display, where you’re beamed into a virtual environment of architectural design, and you have control over every object you see.
When it comes to an exploration of architectural design, 2D visualizations often fail to deliver a satisfactory understanding of scale, perspective, spatial relationship, aesthetics (colors, patterns, textures, etc.), and overall realism to the viewers. In some cases, conventional architectural drafts might risk misleading non-technical audiences about how the design should look in the real world when the project is finally materialized.
3D modeling is the next logical move toward a much-needed improvement. And when the visualization is presented in an immersive format using mixed-reality devices, the audience takes a step beyond the traditional paradigm of zooming or highlighting, into an interactive virtual world where they can explore a large-scale architecture in detail. Keep in mind that 3D modeling forms the foundation of architectural rendering that further enhances the immersive design experience to achieve hyper-realism with proper lighting, shadows, textures, colors, patterns, and even weather effects.
It’s safe to say that the transition from conventional 2D plans to 3D modeling in the architectural industry means much more than a technological upgrade in project workflow. In nearly every aspect of the project, from ideation to construction methods, realistic visualization will create a big shift in how people perceive and communicate architectural designs. An integration between mixed-reality hardware devices, photorealistic rendering, and interactive interface will enable architects, engineers, designers, and clients to immerse themselves in a virtual design space long before construction begins.
Immersive technologies blur the line between hypothetical concepts and reality. They allow professionals and clients to interact with a virtual design as if everything is real, afford the opportunity for urban planners to walk through an intersection yet to be constructed, and basically grant a much greater freedom to the design exploration process without the need for physical models.
Cad Crowd helps you connect with skillful 3D modelers, render artists, and immersive design experience talents who specialize in the AEC industry. Thanks to rigorous vetting procedures and the competitive nature of the platform, Cad Crowd makes sure that you can always find, collaborate, and hire experienced professionals to transform concepts into immersive visualizations. They have both the technical expertise and the artistic touch to unlock the perception that architectural drafting isn’t just an object, but a virtually experienced, lifelike environment. Request a quote today.
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