Visualizing the Result Before Construction Begins
 Rendering Prior to Construction |
| The images, above and below, are renderings. They are 3-dimensional computer drawings of a space. And in this case, they were drawn long before construction began. We and a few other architectural designers use them to help clients really understand what a space will look like before long before we start construction. In our case, the very first time a client sees floor plans of changes they come with renderings of the “built” result. |
 Rendering of Same Space From Different Perspective |
| This is the same room as the first image but from a different perspective in the room. With good rendering tools, a designer or architect can work with clients, sometimes in real-time at the computer, to understand how different configurations, and finishes will affect the “feel” of the room. With a bit more work, we can even create a walk-through so the client can virtually walk through the remodeled home — All before construction starts. It’s a great tool to take the uncertainty out of remodeling and, for individual features, help a client decide whether the additional cost of a particular change is worth the incremental cost. |
| We find that using renderings during the conceptual design phase saves money both during design and construction. At the design phase, it saves money on revising time-consuming construction drawings. At the construction phase, they save money on very costly change orders. Let’s look at the above images, the homeowner changed 2 things based on the renderings: the number of lights hanging over the table and the length of the banquette. If these changes had been change orders — because the client couldn’t properly visualize the result from construction drawings — it would have added at least $5,000 to the job. We have a friend living in a different part of the country who worked with an architect using only the traditional floor plans and elevations. They spent an at least $25,000 during construction on change orders that could have been avoided if they had seen renderings. Then about 6 months after the remodel was complete, they spent an additional $15,000 on to the kitchen because they failed to understand they you would see a frequently messy part of the kitchen when you entered through the front door. If they had used renderings, they could have fixed this before construction began for no additional cost. |
| So let’s look at the floor plan and elevations of the space depicted in the renderings. These are only 2 of dozens of plans, elevations, and sections contained in the construction drawings. |
 Floor Plan  Elevation |
| These are the traditional tools used to communicate what a remodeled home will look like. The floor plan and elevations (as well as details and sections) are critical to communicate with building professionals and permitting authorities — they have to be done. But most of us have trouble translating these traditional tools into the 3-dimensional reality of what the space will look like and will feel like to live in. |
| All images courtesy of Braitman Design/Build |
[...] Jackie Braitman put an intriguing blog post on Visualizing the Result Before Construction BeginsHere’s a quick excerptI work at the intersection of art, barchitecture/b, and bdesign/b. The differences are of scale, technical requirement, and intimacy. With sculpture, I seek to express and influence emotion. bArchitectural design/b is sculpture on a larger scale b…/b [...]