Enhance your projects with a photorealistic architectural perspective

Architectural perspective is the essential tool for presenting your real estate projects. Whether you’re an architect, property developer or real estate agent, you’ve no doubt already asked yourself how much a computer-generated image costs, how the 3d architectural perspective service works, or what you need to know in order to place an order or quote.

We’d like to take you through the steps involved in creating a perfectly realistic architectural perspective, using a recent project as an example.

Architectural perspective: the files you need to produce an estimate

To determine an estimate for an architectural perspective, we need to understand the scope of the project. To evaluate the work involved, we need to estimate the complexity by carefully analyzing the elements at your disposal. You’ll need to present us with :

• project presentation
• building plans (.PDF or .DWG or other)
• detailed description of your request: number of views per space, number of spaces, interior and exterior architectural perspectives?
• and, if possible, a moodboard for the desired decorating style.

From there, we’ll study your file and provide you, within 24 hours, with an estimate detailing our service, its cost and deliverables.

To illustrate our point and give you a better idea of our 3D visuals service, we’d like to share with you our experience with a recent customer.

Successful communication from an architectural perspective

That’s the challenge faced by this young company when it came to launching its highly innovative project, a small 33m² studio apartment, ideal as a guest house or small second home nestled deep in the woods. Made of wood and noble materials, with wide openings and a rounded design, the studio is like a cocoon designed to blend in with nature – a real little nest.

But a simple description, diagrams or rough plans don’t allow you to really fall under the charm of the construction. An architectural perspective on every important point, on the other hand, enables the public to grasp the appeal of the project at a glance and fall under its spell.

Our client understood this and entrusted us with a series of shots of the stunning architecture of this cottage deep in the woods.

Architectural perspective step by step

To create an architectural perspective of this quality, a number of operations need to be carried out:

• modeling of the entire space: we build walls, doors, windows, etc. in 3D. When required, a specialized architect is called in to reproduce the most complex large-scale projects.
• texture research: based on the specifications supplied, we apply the materials for each element (color and type of covering),
• furnishings: we arrange the furniture to imitate the atmosphere described in your moodboard.
• lighting set-up: we position light sources according to fixtures and exterior openings, so as to sublimate the architectural perspective.
• rendering tests and corrections: we submit low-definition versions to show the first draft, then make any necessary corrections.
• post-production: we retouch the image to give it the final touch.

Obviously, all this takes time, but the result is, we feel, well worth the price. The range of man-days indicated depends on the complexity of the project, as a small bungalow is not as complex as a residential or commercial complex.

Step 1: Information gathering

Gather and analyze the plans, organize the information, consider the shots to be taken, plan and distribute the work to the various people involved. This preliminary stage takes 1 to 2 hours, depending on the project.

Stage 2: space modeling

Based on the plans, we build the walls, all openings, balconies or terraces, the roof, etc. in 3D. This takes 1 day for each interior space and 2 days for the exterior.

Stage 3: Texture research

Based on the imposed moodboard, the architect’s specifications and the developer’s wishes, we research the different textures of all coverings: floors, walls, door frames, etc. Count 2 to 4 hours per space.

Step 4: furnishings

We choose the furniture best suited to reproduce the ambience described in the moodboard, even if we have to model furniture that isn’t in our library. Count between 4 and 8 hours per space, if no furniture modeling is required.

Step 5: rendering tests and lighting adjustments

Correctly calibrated lighting is the secret to the success of a photorealistic architectural perspective. Several rendering tests must be carried out to perfectly adjust the light sources. This task generally takes 1 hour per visual.

Step 6: previews of the architectural perspective

The first version of the visual is rarely the right one. That’s why we deliver a first version in low definition so that the customer can ask for corrections. These corrections can take from half a day to 2 working days.

Step 7: Delivery of the photorealistic architectural perspective

Once the corrections have been validated, we launch the rendering of the final architectural perspective. This process immobilizes the computer for 1 to 4 hours, depending on the resolution and complexity of the scene.

Conclusion: how much does an architectural perspective cost?

Designing an architectural perspective takes time. It can take from 2.5 to 4/5 days to complete, depending on the scope and number of corrections required.

At Studio 3D, we charge an hourly rate of €200/day. An architectural perspective like the one you can see in our portfolio therefore costs between 500€ and 1000€.

Case study: architectural perspective for a house builder

Our client contacted us to showcase his project. Since it was still in the prototype stage, the architectural perspective was the ideal way to arouse the interest of prospective customers. Initially, our client asked us to produce an architectural perspective of the exterior and 3 views of the interior.

The first previews after 48 hours

Inspired by the project, our 3D artist built the living module and its environment, furnished the studio and delivered the first previews of the architectural perspectives in less than 3 days.

Customer feedback and corrections

Our customer gave us his comments on both the decoration and the construction, which we summarized in the visual. Shortly afterwards, we delivered the corrected visuals.

When we delivered the first previews, our customer was so excited that he ordered additional views: 1 bedroom, a 2nd exterior view and a night view.

A few days and corrections later, here are the photorealistic architectural perspectives produced:

Based in Tunisia, Le Studio 3D can afford to offer very competitive rates. We take the time needed to produce a flawless, high-quality architectural perspective. Whereas in Europe, this type of service would be billed at 400 to 500€/day, we base our daily rates at 200€.

So let yourself be tempted and ask for a free, no-obligation quote for your project right now !