Architectural Design Drafting & Rendering – an Overview

Architectural design is at the heart of an efficient, liveable, man-made structure, the brain behind the brawn of building construction. One of the more important segments of architecture is the architectural design drafting process, when architectural drawings and renderings are created, which can later be developed into architectural models also. With expanding populations worldwide and growing housing and commercial requirements, there is an increased need for architectural design drafting and architectural rendering services. We take a broad look at the stages, software, concerns and profitable options.

Architectural design primarily follows a progression of stages, namely the Concept Stage, Schematic Design Stage, Design Development and Permissions Stage and the Construction Documents Stage. Here’s how they proceed:

Concept Stage

1. Parts of the design are assembled
2. Zoning and building codes are reviewed
3. Full code summaries and research design parameters are produced
4. Site research is conducted to decide solar angles and other site conditions
5. Client needs are understood in detail and sketched with proposed dimensions
6. Architects create and submit surveys, sketches, site plans, floor plans and elevations to the client

Schematic Design Stage
1. Decisions are taken on ideas for the location and to fit within budget
2. Several design options are sketched and loose drawings are made, regularly by hand.
3. Once approved, a schematic pricing set, which includes plans, sections, elevations is produced
4. Process is discussed, functions of the building are considered and diagrams are produced
5. Doors and windows are added schematically
6. Materials are discussed

Design Development and Permissions Stage
1. Schematic drawings are developed into permit or planning documents
2. Zone requirements are reviewed
3. Drawings are developed into 3D models
4. Coordination occurs with structural engineers to complete engineering work
5. Floor plans and elevations are assigned dimensions
6. Choices of wood, flooring, windows, locations of cabinets and appliances, assembly details and relevant code information is finalised
7. Trade, supplier and manufacturer recommendations are added to the drawing set and submitted to authorities for permits

Construction Documents
1. Once permits are obtained, documents for construction are finalised
2. MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) plans and foundation plans submitted by structural engineers are added
3. Increased coordination occurs
4. Drawings include extensive detail

A single software platform or a combination of platforms can be utilised for the design stages, namely:

Autodesk’s Revit BIM:

- 3D BIM models can be created from pre-construction concept stages to detailed construction stages

DIALux and Camel within the BIM format can be used for MEP engineering design, namely MEP design, MEP coordination, MEP drafting and MEP modelling.

- Mechanical, electrical, public health and fire protection building services design can be created for concept, schematic, design development, tender and construction stages.

Revit MEP and Navisworks for 3D building services coordination can be used to create:

- Coordinated Revit 3D models, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire services with other disciplines (steel, concrete, false ceilings, etc.)
- Coordinated MEP drawings of plant rooms, building risers, prefabricated corridors and ceiling modules

AutoCAD and AutoCAD MEP can help create:

- MEP CAD drawings, installation drawings and shop drawings

Revit Architecture and ArchiCAD for architectural CAD drafting services help produce:

- CAD design services, including construction drawing sets, CAD drawings
- Architectural CAD drafting, architectural CAD models, architectural photomontage creations and architectural rendering

SketchUp, 3ds Max, VRay, Lumion, Rhino 3D, Maxwell are user-friendly architectural rendering software tools that have a cache of 3D models of furniture, plants, trees, grass, etc.

-Helps develop final photo-realistic image that reflects design concepts and dimensions
- Includes shadows, shading, light sources, white model effect
- Shows depth of field, environment panel, sky setup - (sun, weather, clouds, fog, rainbow, atmosphere)
- Produces special effects, such as background panels, blend images, texture-mapping, bump-mapping, fogging/participating medium, reflection, transparency, opacity, translucency

Along with the appropriate software, certain key requisites vital for efficient architectural design are:

Right Resources

- Sufficient quantity of skilled human resources with recognised expertise using the above software tools, with the right technical qualifications, knowledge and experience
- Dedicated personnel for one project at a time

Expensive Software

- Updated software for all relevant personnel

Training

- Each contributing project member must be extensively trained on possibly different software

Overseas Options

For either part of or the entire design process, the above-mentioned requisites can be sourced overseas, or outsourced. Outsourcing generates technically efficient architectural design at competitive rates. This is due to:
1. A large number of experienced and technically well-qualified teams
2. Budget-friendly overseas firms with 5-10 years’ architectural design and drafting experience
3. Revit BIM platform popularity overseas, leading to sound experience
4. Impressive certification, generally a minimum of ISO9001:2015

Architectural design drives successful project execution, and though several different software platforms can help deliver comprehensive design, other factors also contribute to project success. These factors are significantly impacted by outsourcing. Outsourcing delivers cost-effective, technically sound architectural drawings, models, computer-generated images and construction documents.

Photorealistic 3D Rendering: A Perfect Fit for Homebuilders' Marketing Mix

Homebuilders cater to diverse people who have different tastes. Bearing this aspect in mind, every project requires a unique approach for planning, designing, promoting, and building, which makes homebuilding a highly demanding business. Some people may have a desire to own urban homes which suit their sophisticated suburban lifestyle; others based in metropolitan cities prefer smaller, ergonomic, and functional spaces owing to the higher cost of living.

Since homebuilding is essentially a service provided to potential owners, homebuilders are expected to get the seven P's of service marketing right. These include product, price, place, promotion, physical environment, process, and people. Photorealistic 3D rendering and visualization is potentially one of the most important techniques that the homebuilders can employ to take care of the 'promotion' and 'physical environment' aspects of marketing.

Simply put, rendering is a process of representing 3D mathematical models and scenes, which feature details like textures, materials and lights (internal and natural lighting conditions) in 2D formats. The final output accurately represents the vision, scope and is as true to life as possible. Based on the scope of work, details may vary, for instance, the interior 3D renderings may show details related to each and every furnishing, surface or light fixtures. When rendering for building exteriors, the output may represent natural external lightings/shadows and how it reacts with other elements, such as landscapes, walkways, entrances, roofs, and other surroundings.

So far as the 'promotion' aspect of marketing is concerned, photorealistic renderings can help you communicate to your target audience the fine nuances of your home design via various marketing channels. The rendered stills can be employed in your brochures, flyers, billboards, and magazine ads, among others. Additionally, the 3D walkthroughs and fly-by camera animation videos can help you promote yourself in a range of digital media, such as Internet, social media, and through customised DVDs.

Furthermore, 3D rendering and visualisation can aid homebuilders to accurately demonstrate the 'physical environment' of their designs to their prospective customers. The walkthrough animations act as simulated mock-ups of the homes before construction so that any feature or component of the design can be altered to their likes. These fly-by animations can also clear doubts in the minds of potential owners and offer them motivation to quickly approve the designs.

In addition to persuading the potential home owners about the functional, emotional, and self-expressive benefits of their projects, homebuilders need to ensure that their projects comply with the local building regulations related to structure, drainage, fire safety, hygiene, energy efficiency, and toxicity, among others. As a result, depending on the size of the project, homebuilders have to take permissions from the local planning authorities before proceeding to the construction stage. Detailed stills of various views derived from photorealistic 3D rendering can also prove helpful in getting timely approvals whilst saving time for homebuilders and the entire project team.

 

Kuldeep Bwail is a Director at XS CAD Limited, one of the leading providers of Residential Architectural Renderings and Residential BIM Modeling services to customers in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Europe, India and the Middle East.

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