3D rendering is an integral part of any architectural project because it provides many benefits that can't be replaced. The first one is the possibility to visualize an idea before it is built in reality. That is very useful for any architect because they can see potential issues and fix them before they ever occur in reality.
Not only that, 3D renders are a perfect way of selling ideas to investors and shareholders, as most of them struggle to visualize designs from drawings. In short, it's an effective way of communicating ideas and making sure that the final design is as perfect as possible before the construction starts.
Stay with us, and we'll tell you everything you need to know about the importance of 3D rendering in architecture design.
As we just mentioned, 3D renders can help architects and investors get an idea of what a design will look like in real life before a single dollar is spent on construction. Exterior rendering today can recreate surroundings and implement the future design within, making it look like an actual building that's already finished.
With high-definition textures, light effects, and other rendering details, the final render offers a lifelike depiction of the exterior design.
A simple idea becomes a full-fledged building with all of the details and accurate surroundings. That makes it much easier to sell the design, as clients will see how the building will look in the end.
That takes all of the guesswork away, much like a model building, but with much more detail. Not only that, renders can show a building design from multiple angles, and they can even take virtual tours to experience the design firsthand. The most expensive renders provide a detailed look into every corner of the building, both inside and out.
It's no secret that buildings sometimes turn out differently than what was originally planned. One such example is the famous walkie-talkie building in London. The skyscraper's unique shape makes it one of the most famous landmarks in the city, but the architect didn't think about the changing seasons.
Its curved shape doesn't cause any problems most of the time, but the towering side reflects the sun down to the streets for three weeks. That raises the street temperature so much, car tires deflate, plastic parts melt, and people can cook eggs on the concrete.
3D rendering can help prevent such problems and detect all kinds of problems before the construction takes place. All design flaws can be changed on time, ensuring that the final design is the best possible version. The practice can save a lot of time, money, and headaches for everyone involved.
We already mentioned that 3D renders act like an effective visualization tool that helps investors get a good idea of how the building will look like when it's built. Many 3D rendering programs can help architects achieve that. Some of them even offer augmented reality features that provide a unique insight into how the result will look like in real-time.
In other words, 3D rendering can help designers share their vision with others much better than drawings and 3D models. That is especially true for unique buildings with features that are not easy to imagine.
Today, 3D renders look like real photos, giving people a chance to see into the future. It's the perfect tool architects use to impress investors and sell their designs without problems - the more detailed the design, the better the chances of selling it.
3D rendering is a cost-effective way of providing investors with realistic designs for their projects. Even if they don't like the original design and want to make changes, artists can quickly implement them in existing files and come back for a second opinion.
That makes the process much faster and cheaper than it was a few decades ago. A detailed 3D render of a building exterior costs a few thousand dollars, which is nothing compared to the cost of upgrading existing buildings in reality.
Back then, architects had to re-design everything by hand again, and that can take weeks, if not months, to complete. Imagine the costs of changing an exterior design for a building that's already built. Not only would it be thousands of times more expensive, but it would also be a huge problem for hundreds of people involved in the process.
3D rendering allows architects to improve their designs on the go. If they have to, they can re-design the same building dozens of times until they develop a perfect solution.
Marketing is a very important part of selling any architectural design, and nothing can help close the deal better than 3D rendering. Today's market is an unforgiving place, and everyone will use whatever they can to get an edge over the competition.
A well-designed render is all you need to attract the right people and present your designs directly to clients. They will see the creativity and talent behind the design, and perfect renders can help you put the competition behind you faster than anything else.
With the right presentation and attention to detail, a render can help you sell your ideas to the right people. If your designs are creative and detailed, you will sell your ideas for a better price. That way, you can build a reputation for yourself and get more high-paying projects in the future.
It's a simple yet very effective way of promoting a potential new building, and most real estate companies and investors use this method to advertise their designs.
Architectural designs usually come in a few different concepts and options. When a final design is chosen, realistic renders can help you, and all others involved find better solutions for all kinds of issues. When the investors and the constructors see the render, they might get a better idea and improve the design even further.
Even if your design isn't final, looking at the render can help you kickstart your creativity and visualize features you didn't think about previously. Imagine looking at a realistic render of a building with accurate surroundings.
You will get a better feeling about how it looks and if it needs any changes. Then, you can quickly apply new ideas to the original design and improve it immediately. The best part is that you won't have to do everything from the beginning.
A 3D exterior render is always helpful for picturing a design, but what about the surrounding area? The building itself is one thing, but how would it fit with the surrounding area? That's where 3D rendering jumps in.
Artists need only a few photos of the surrounding area to implement the renders in realistic settings. That's one of the most useful features of 3D rendering software today.
We mentioned that some software provides an augmented reality feature that allows you to look through your phone's screen and see a building that isn't there. Most such software solutions offer life-size renders, and they provide unique, vital insight into the future. That takes all of the guessings out of the equation and allows everyone to see how a building or design will look like when it is finally finished.
If things like these were available in the past, the architecture all over the world would look completely different than it does today. The current technologies make it easier to understand ideas and see how they affect the world in reality. It's a fantastic design feature that changed the game forever.
Rendering software can help design entire cities and neighborhoods. The practice is widely used by governments worldwide, led by China, where architects often face massive projects that wouldn't be possible without 3D rendering software.
One such project was the World Trade Show in Shanghai when the Chinese government displaced close to 2 million residents and completely rebuilt the old city center in less than four years. Such a project would never be possible that quickly without 3D rendering plans.
Architects are not the only people working on external building designs. The process also involves teams of engineers, designers, software professionals, and investors who need to be on the same page. They all work together, exchanging ideas and visions until they find the one that works the best.
When a designer creates the initial 3D render, they can share it with the rest of the team, so everyone can work on improving it simultaneously. Not only will they be able to understand the design better, but they will also speed up the design process and get better results in a shorter time frame. Exterior designs shouldn't be rushed, but renders can speed things up safely without damaging the overall quality.
The success of every construction project largely depends on the management. However, managing a complete design project from the early stages to the final construction phases takes a lot of time and effort. With 3D renders, managers can quickly identify potential issues and fix them before they occur in real life.
Moreover, they can make changes on the go and still keep everyone involved on the same page. Since most renders show the same building from multiple angles both inside and out, managers can use these renders to keep track of what's going on during the construction phase.
In other words, 3D renders are able to speed up everything, from the design phase to the construction phase, by allowing those in charge to stay one step ahead of everyone else.
They can use the renders to see what's coming next and prepare the rest of the team according to the situation. Lastly, managers can use the renders to improve the construction site's safety features and help organize the materials needed in the construction.
Exterior architecture design revolves around evoking emotions ever since the beginning of time. All landmark buildings throughout history had the power to make people feel something when they look at them.
The same thing can be said for renders of future buildings that are not yet built. 3D designs made using the latest rendering tools look almost 100% real, enabling the designer to evoke emotions in everyone who sees them.
Nothing can help bring potential investors closer to a project than a good render as it can relate the right emotions allowing them to visualize how a building will look like once it's built. The link between emotion and architectural design is irreversible, and if a render can make people feel differently, that's more than half of the job done.
When all things are considered, it's evident that 3D rendering software is a game-changer in the world of architecture. While architects had to draw multiple designs by hand not so long ago, today, they can quickly come up with lifelike designs using high-end software. All changes can be made on the go, making the entire process much faster and easily manageable.
There's no doubt that 3D rendering is an essential part of exterior design in architecture, and pretty soon, it's going to become even faster and more detailed. New technologies already allow architects to visualize their designs fully, and in a few years, the use of AI might replace architects altogether.
We just have to wait and see, but one thing is for sure, 3D renders will stay one of the essential factors in architecture for years to come.