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You might not think Mudbox is an architectural design tool, but if Mark Gage has his way it could be.  Check out his interested uses for the tool in this presentation at Autodesk University.

Hear Yale University Architecture professor Mark Gage describe how he is introducing his students to Autodesk Mudbox. Mark comments on the need for today’s architects to get exposure to what media and entertainment creation software can do for them. Recorded at Autodesk University 2010.

via YouTube – Yale Architecture Students Dig Into Autodesk Mudbox – AU 2010 Special Report.

Graphics architectural, architecture, autodesk, mudbox

Ronen Bekerman has posted the final entry in his “GH House Challenge” series, this one from the Grand Prize Winner Bertrand Benoit.  His article contains several mini-tutorials on tools like the Floor Generator Script and Raindrop creation, as well as others.

I opted to model the hardwood parquet floor (and the deck outside) instead of using textures. For this, I used a great free 3ds Max script called Floor Generator. Coupled with the Multi Texture plugin, it makes creating hyper-realistic floors a breeze. Not only do these show no visible tiling, but they can be seen at very close-range, giving you a lot more options when picking your POV. I use these scripts all the time, not just for parquets but for paving and cladding. This is one of those simple tools that really take your archviz to the next level.

Full thing at the link.

via Making of 3D render GH House “Norwegian lake shore” by Bertrand Benoit – 3D Architectural Visualization Rendering Blog – Ronen Bekerman.

Graphics 3dsmax, architecture

Today is the Ides of March, and in commemoration of this famous day I thought it only fitting to report something related to visualizing Rome’s great cities.    Since 1997, researchers at the University of Virginia, UCLA, Politecnico di Milano, and several others have been reconstructing the great city of Rome from way back in A.D. 320.  They’ve modeled the city buildings, aqueducts, bridges, and more with amazing detail based on a wide variety of input sources.

The digital model reflects the sources of our knowledge about ancient Rome. These are, broadly speaking, of two kinds: (1) archaeological data about specific sites and features (“Class I”); and (2) quantitative data about the distribution of building types throughout the fourteen regions (or wards) of the city (“Class II”). Features in Class I are known from archaeological excavations and studies; coins; inscriptions; ancient literary sources; and artists’ views from the Renaissance until the nineteenth century. Buildings in Class II are known from two regionary catalogues (the Curiosum and the Notitia) dating to the fourth century A.D.

Their models are now available in Google Earth, and they are up to “Rome 2.0″ which includes work from industry sources.

Rome Reborn 2.0 was jointly created by IATH, Procedural, and mental images in 2008. It runs on a 16-core Sun server.

Version 2.0 uses the 32 hand-made Class I models created at UCLA and Bordeaux and converted by IBM and IATH to 3D Studio Max format.

It completely replaces the Class II models derived from the physical model with procedural models created with the CityEngine software of Procedural using archaeological research undertaken by the Université de Caen and by IATH.

Thus, version 2.0 is greatly improved with respect to geometric detail. In versions 1.0 and 1.1, the detailing of Class II features (windows, doors, balconies, colonnades, porticoes, etc.) was provided by textures. In version 2.0, the features have been fully modeled, unlike versions 1.0 and 1.1 (which run only on a workstation), thanks to Mental Image’s RealityServer software it can be used on the Internet.

So fire up your browsers and go check it out, without worrying about Brutus sneaking up behind you.

via Rome Reborn.

Science architecture, google earth, history

If you work in architectural rendering, you definitely need to check out abduzeedo’s latest list of 30 fantastic architecture renders.

There are lots of render softwares today, but to reach a good result, just choosing some elements, textures and colors it’s not enough. Like the photos, the use of light and angle of the render I believe that are the key points to get a beautiful and realistic image. And as a huge a fan of 3D and architecture I selected 30 images from several styles that are the most impressive renders I’ve ever seen!

Most of them are composites of CG & real photography, but all of them are amazing.

via 30 Fantastic Architecture Renders | Abduzeedo | Graphic Design Inspiration and Photoshop Tutorials.

Graphics architecture, list

Tony DeYoung pointed me to an interesting post on the StudioGPU blog showing off work from Chad Wanstreet, Technical Director at Speedshape Detroit.  In the post he shows some architectural renderings made with Machstudio Pro, after modeling with 3dsMax, that were rendered in 5 separate passes in a total of 5 minutes.

“Machstudio provides me with a quick feedback loop for my concepts, and the ability to create animations very quickly, which I love. Too many of the tools which designers and architects use for quick concept work focus only on volumes and materials, and miss out on light, time and the relationship of the two.” (bold is my editorial)

It was all done on a single PC, rather than the traditional farm.  A great example of what GPU acceleration will mean in the near future.

via StudioGPU Blog: Too many of the concept tools for architects miss out on light, time and the relationship of the two.

Graphics 3dsmax, architecture, machstudio, studiogpu

Alex Roman has a video on Vimeo, you may have seen it advertised other places as well, showing a fully-CG film of architectural beauty and splendor that rivals films like Avatar for detail and realism.

A FULL-CG animated piece that tries to illustrate architecture art across a photographic point of view where main subjects are already-built spaces. Sometimes in an abstract way. Sometimes surreal.

See the video, and with some behind-the-scenes videos of how it was built, after the break.

Read more…

Graphics architecture, cg

The recession is having a wide impact on several markets, and with a consumer base more used to shopping online that ever and always looking to save money, real estate companies are looking to sell homes with a minimum of interference and cost investment on both parts.  The solution:  Virtual Model Homes that can be viewed in the comfort of a consumer’s own home.  Focus360 is one company providing this service, but it’s typically not cheap:

These highly-detailed 3D videos create the spatial experience of walking through a model home and visualizing every detail, before the home is even built. Though the price to create these tours is far less than their physical counterpart, high quality tours can easily cost $10,000 or more. “If you’re going to replace the tactile experience of walking through a real model home with a virtual home, it had better be astoundingly realistic or you might have the reverse effect and turn off your prospective homebuyer,” said Steve Ormonde, Co-founder of Focus 360, and the inventor of this technology.

The press release is about their new “Value Line” that cuts the cost significantly, but preserves the quality that customers need.  But is the money worth it?

Absolutely!” stated Adam Hieb, Director, Sales and Marketing for Shea Homes. “The days are gone when we could afford to put up multi-million dollar model complexes. Every new Shea home community is different but in general, our use of high quality virtual model tours will greatly reduce the number of model homes needed. Instead of four models for instance, we might be able to get away with one, with the remaining models represented in 3D virtual reality. In some lower profile communities, virtual tours may eliminate models completely – a sales office might suffice. And while we’ve used Focus 360 for many years for our bigger budget, high profile projects, we’re excited that we can now afford them for all our projects.”

via Homebuilders Are Increasing the Use of “Virtual Model Homes” to Drive Sales and Cut Costs During the Recession.

Graphics architecture, focus360

A new version of the popular architectural rendering tool Artlantis is now available and boasts a slew of new features.

Artlantis is recognized as the fastest, most powerful solution for photo-realistic rendering and animation. Now, Artlantis 3 is strengthening its lead with an even more accurate radiosity engine, new management of geometry by layers, better management and enrichment of media, and simplified control of optimized lighting.

via Artlantis is the fastest stand-alone rendering application developed especially for architects and designers..

Graphics architecture, artlantis, renderer, software

Over at PhysOrg they have an article about Antonio Serrato-Combe’s efforts to digitally reconstruct the Aztec Ruins.  As a professor of archtecture at the University of Utah, he has spent decades researching the ruins and in 2002 published a book, “The Aztec Templo Mayor: A Visualization”.

More involved than the research however, was the question of how to visualize the discoveries. A self-proclaimed computer geek, it was at the suggestion of a student that Combe combined his two passions of research and computer graphics into an illustrated book. He said, “One day, after one of my history classes here at the University of Utah, one of my students remarked, ‘since you know so much about pre-Columbian architecture and you also seem to be a computer geek, why don’t you combine both disciplines and come up with a book that uses digital tools to illustrate the past?” The rest is history.

via Visualizing the Aztecs.

Science architecture, history

Probably not too many of you care about the “Pool Design Software”, but they’ve just added a new feature that’s interesting called “Instant 3D”.  From their press release:

The unique “Instant 3D” presentation system allows professionals to draw pools, spas, houses, decks and more in flat 2D and instantly present in interactive 3D. The material of any interior and surface created can also be changed with just a “click of the mouse”. Pool Studio features a real time terrain system that allows negative edges, cliffs, rolling hills, and other elevated ground to be created in 3D.  Designers can immerse the homeowner in every detail of their swimming pool project. Prospective pool owners can examine their future backyard design from every angle and see every feature and upgrade in convincing, real-time 3D.

Architectural design and demonstration tools targeted towards making pretty scenes for hopeful consumers is a growing market.  As CG becomes more and more commonplace in TV & Movies, more customers expect to be able to “previsualize” construction projects before ground is broken.

See a video of the software in-use after the break.

Read more…

Graphics architecture