3D Building Elevation: How Does It Work?

3D Building Elevation: How Does It Work?

3D building elevation, in simple words, is when you see the outer look of a building. Every building you live nearby, even your house, can be made into 3D.

In other words, your architect will create a 3D elevation model based on your information. And by looking just at the 3D model of your building, you can get an idea of how your property will look from the outside and inside after completion.

If you want to build your home or your dream office, then in this case 3D elevation drawing will definitely help you decide the overall structure of the building and, of course, understand the design.

Let’s put it straight: 3D building elevation is a process of creating a three-dimensional model of the exterior. An architect or designer, for example, can visualize and plan the architectural features of a building before construction.

The use of 3D elevation in modern society is growing by leaps and bounds. And 3D elevation design has become one of the most crucial tools for architects and designers for many things.

What is 3D elevation?

By looking at 3D elevation images, you can see every single detail of a building, including walls, windows, doors, trees, roads, car parking, and many other important features.

3D elevation is a three-dimensional building model, created in software like AutoCAD and SketchUp. These designs are accurate and look exactly how your building will look when completed. As we said, by looking at these 3D images, you can can see how a building will look, even before it is built.

If we talk about the use of a 3D model, the possibilities are limitless. Yes, you heard it right. In these days, almost every industry uses 3D models to market and sell their products. The simple use of this thing is to make the client understand how the final product will look like. That’s it.

Coming back to the architectural industry, architects use 3D design models for walkthroughs, which is one of the most used and most sought-after techniques. In the walkthrough model, you will feel like you are walking in the design and seeing things in real life. This experience is going to be amazing.

The cutaway 3D elevation view, on the other hand, is another popular method to show things in a concise and accurate manner. With this method, your architects will show you a detailed representation of a specific area. Let’s say, for example, you want to see the living room; the cutaway view can show you what your living room is going to look like.

How is a 3D elevation design created?

Phase 1: Data collection: 

At this stage, we conduct a site survey to take precise measurements and collect relevant data about the site. When it comes to data, specifically, there are different types of data that we mainly collect. For example, the site topography, existing structures, and the surrounding environment. In these days, most of the experienced or let’s say tech-savvy architects and designers use laser scanners and drones to survey the location.

Phase 2: 3D modeling and design: 

Once all the necessary data is collected and organized in a safe file or folder, your architect will create a 3D model of the building. To repeat, the design is created based on the information that we collected in the first step. Using 3D elevation software, we can create a 3D elevation design with more accuracy. In 3Ddesign, generally speaking, we add a lot of things which is required to build a house, such as walls, windows, doors, and other important architectural details.

Phase 3: Adding materials and textures: 

In the third step, which is very important, we add materials and textures to the prepared model so that the 3D elevation design will look more real. There will also be some surface details that will be added in this very step, such as brickwork, paint, glass, and other things that will be used in the construction process. In order to get high-quality textures and real-life lighting effects, high-end rendering software is used.

Phase 4: Adding proper lighting solutions: 

Lighting and shadowing are two of the most important aspects of creating an accurate 3D elevation that looks natural and realistic. Now, to see how natural and artificial light will interact with a building at different times of the day and throughout the year, professionals use lighting simulation software to create effects. By doing this, for example, you will be able to understand better how your building will react to different environments.

Phase 5: Rendering process: 

After the 3D model has been completed, we can start rendering and showing the building elevation in 3D. From the 3D model, high-resolution images and motion graphics are generated using high-quality rendering software. The pictures provide us with a natural understanding of what the building will look like once it has been constructed and when it is complete.

Phase 6: Getting feedback: 

Throughout the process, feedback and collaboration are essential in order to achieve success at every step. The 3D elevation is reviewed by the architects, clients, and other team members involved in the project for their input before it is finalized. In this phase, we will make any changes required to ensure that the project’s goals are matched with the design.

Phase 7: Communication: 

The final 3D elevation design of the building is presented to the client, investor, and construction team after it has been completed. There are a number of benefits to using this communication tool. By doing so, everyone involved in the project has a better understanding of the design concept. This allows them to make the right decisions—if needed.

Why is 3D elevation important?

There are many reasons why 3D elevation is important. Take a look at:

In simple words, 3D elevation is a simple approach to presenting your ideas and design concepts in a more effective and organized way. This modern approach is mainly used by architects, designers, and, of course, real estate developers. 3D elevation is an excellent tool to show your clients how a building will look from different angles. 

But before, there were only sketches and pictures to show the designs. These drawings were imprecise and were not able to show the exact appearance of a building. In this way, you will have zero misunderstandings and confusion, which can help you get client satisfaction and approval.

By using it, in other cases, architects and designers can improve and refine their designs and plans. By creating a 3D elevation, they can test and experiment with a lot of things, such as different colors, textures, materials, lighting, and shadows. With a 3D building model, the client and, of course, the construction team can decide which look is better.

The last and one of the most important reasons to use 3D elevation design is to save them (architects and designers, and clients) time and money. When we have a 3D elevation, there is no need to go for physical models and prototypes. 

Because if the client wants to make some changes to the design, it will be quite expensive and time-consuming to do so. Also, 3D elevation helps prevent errors and mistakes. With 3D elevation, the construction and design process is made easier—faster, and less expensive.

The final thought

When it comes to architecture and the construction field, 3D building elevation is one of the most loved and most used models. Because with the help of a 3D design, you can have an idea of how your house, office, or any other property will look once it is completed.

With its advanced technology, 3D elevation designing software is the need of the time. And we use this technology to create high-end 3D models for our clients across the country. If you would like us to create your house or office 3D elevation, just connect with us. And we will help you in every possible way to make your dream come true.