Essay

Over recent years, digital media for architectural design has given way to a multitude of different 3D room design tools. As such, tools like 3D Studio Max, Rhino, Revit and now Twinmotion2 have entered the design field giving architects a new sort of “pen” with which to virtually “ink” their designs, not only to benefit their own design process — but to more quickly produce 3D room design still visualizations and walk-throughs to communicate those pivotal design decisions which they make to their clients.

With this I ask, in what ways do digital media tools for architectural design bring value to the details within your projects — such as by making tangible that which is not yet realized? Also, what and why do you choose to model certain aspects of your design, and what do you do with that information to make your design even better?

As you begin to answer the above questions, I encourage you to read the following top seven ways in which 3D room design can help you make the details of your architectural design sing.

How 3D Room Design Can Help Your Design Intention Be Realized

1. Size, Placement and Proportion: Manipulate geometries to represent room elements and get a virtual feel for how they will work together as a design fabric and composition.

2. Materials, Textures and Reflections: By applying appropriate materials you quickly see the mood you are creating. These will help to refine your design decisions and help you best communicate your design intention to your team and client. Also, glaring errors in material or lighting selections may stand out.

3. Interior Lighting: Lighting is critical to make your 3D room design come alive. With lighting you will quickly see what is working and what is not. You may also further refine your design by choosing the appropriate type of lighting and its location within the space. Get lighting right. It will go a long way.

4. Exterior Lighting and Nature: Even though in this article we are specifically talking about an interior room design, you still need to consider the exterior. Exterior natural daylight, or artificial lighting on at night can impact your room’s interior design. Furthermore, you may want to model other exterior elements “visible” from your interior — like trees, plants, grass, water features and so on. In particular, you need to think beyond the visual as well. (Don’t be limited by the visualization tool you use.) Consider issues like exterior noise levels, the effects of the exterior at different seasons and times of day. Ask yourself how those issues will impact your interior design features. And if they do not, ask whether they should.

5. Experiment and Test with the Virtual Space: Use your virtual space like a sketch pad. It is your sandbox to “build” before you have to build. By isolating a particular architectural area, in this case a room, you will likely get many ideas on ways to make it more meaningful. Plus, if done correctly, your virtual environment will complement your other design process methods, ensuring that your design intention will be not only realized in the 3d room designvisualization, but all the way through to construction.

6. Assess Dynamic Elements: With certain, more advanced, digital media software, you can also experiment with how interactive design components will play out within your room design. To test these, you can create a virtual “walk-through” and experience virtually how your design responds to your motions and behaviors. Such elements in motion may be features like multi-media interfaces, mobile furniture, flexible walls or doorways, changeable materials and so on.

7. Select Key Vantage Points: With your 3d room design in place you can get occupant eye-level views of what it’s like to experience the room: You may choose to focus on key vantage points: perhaps the room entry, exit or primary seating areas, for example. Simply set up a camera at the appropriate height and in the appropriate location. Make sure all of your design elements articulate your vision appropriately at these key vantage points — without compromising your design’s composition from all other perspectives.

In the end, such digital design tools, which can be used at a range of design scales, can become a very helpful virtual and architectural environment, whose language you can use to leverage your own design process for the better.

Image Caption: 3D Room Design Using Twinmotion2

Image Credit: © Creative Tools | Flickr