Architectural Visualisation

Blue Cube Studios provide specialist architectural visualisation services to architects and developers. The process of using 3D imagery or CGI’s to show a building or property is known as architectural visualisation. This specialised field is really a niche, within a niche.

Computer Generated Imagery is becoming more popular every day. We can see it’s uses in most media applications, such as TV, Cinema special effects, and Magazine or Billboard advertising every day. In addition to this, CGI is a core element in the creation of video games. Although CGI’s are now widely used, particularly in the lucrative gaming industry, their use in the field of architecture and the construction industry is still a niche.

Architectural visualisation uses the same software, the same hardware and the same techniques as you would see being put to use in the movie industry for special effects, or in the advertising industry for product visualisation.

Of all the uses for CGI’s, it is most useful for architecture and construction. The reason for this is the nature of the long construction periods involved and because it is not feasible to building physical prototypes of properties before they are built. Property developers therefore have nothing to show until their development is finished. Architectural visualisation allows the creation of realistic images and animations showing a development or building in it’s perfectly finished state, months, sometimes years before it can be built.

Uses for architectural visualisation are mainly:-

• Design concept appraisal and design team collaboration
• Planning application and appraisal
• Materials testing
• Sunlight/Shadow studies
• Sales and Marketing material
• Sales off-plan

It’s the sales and marketing uses that make architectural visualisation most worthwhile and is generally the most popular use. In property development, forward sales is a key factor in financial success. Having realistic architectural cgi’s, which show a property in all it’s glory, way before the building foundations have been started is extremely advantageous, especially when financial considerations come into play.

Architectural CGI

If we consider the term architectural visualisation, to be more of a description of an industry, or field of expertise, then an architectural CGI, would be the product of that industry. If you knew that CGI stands for Computer Generated Image, architectural cgi is a fairly self explanatory term.

Most architects are already using CAD (computer aided design) software to produce their 2D drawings, and a growing number of architects and building designers are starting to use the 3D functions of that same software. The technology behind this software is improving all the time, and architects are using 3D imagery to express their design ideas more and more. Often, in terms of realism, these 3D images can only go so far.

Architects are professionally trained in building design and construction theory. Generally, they do not have the expertise or time, to get involved with the shading and rendering techniques, and specialised software required to make these images look realistic - this is an art form and an industry in it’s own right; namely, architectural visualisation. An architectural cgi is a 3D CAD model, with the shading and lighting techniques added, using specialist visualisation software to produce visually believable, and compelling images and artwork.

CGI Property Illustration

In years gone by, property used to be sold using artists impressions. Now CGI Property Illustration has evolved, the traditional methods of watercolour painting have been replaced with Computer Generated Images. As with everything which used to be done by hand, but is now done using computers, there are many advantages. Instead of drawing a perspective in pencil and having to set up various vanishing points and working out where sight lines would be etc, the computer can work out the perspective from any angle you wish. Once the model is created and the shaders and textures have been added, multiple views can be generated from any angle. This means that not only is it easier to change the angle, you can also get a lot more images for your money. A common misconception is that CGI Property Illustration is more expensive than artists impressions - but that is wrong when you consider how many images you can get from a 3D model. Another consideration is the ability to easily change the image, meaning design amendments or testing different materials can all be done relatively easily.

With CGI Property Illustration, you can take more interesting shots of buildings, maybe cut-away sections to reveal more interesting parts of the building which wouldn’t normally be seen, or show whole floors and cut away the ceiling to reveal how the building works and how one room flows through into another. 3D Floor Plans are a great example of CGI Property Illustration - they are an interesting, compelling and informative high quality illustration.

For more information about Blue Cube Studio’s architectural visualisation services, use this this contact form to speak to a member of our team.