Week 5- Modeling Reading

Week 5 Reading

"Rendering 3D worlds - 3D Geometric Graphics II" by Anne Spalter, Addison Wesley Longman Inc. 1999, pp 257-293.

"Once and Future Graphics Pioneer", B.J. Novitski

http://www.architectureweek.com/2000/0913/tools_1-1.html

"Once and Future Graphics Pioneer Part II", B.J. Novitski

http://www.architectureweek.com/2000/0920/tools_1-1.html

Summary:

                Many of the various terms used in the assigned writing on 3d modeling are not new to me, as I have already been using some of these principles in 3dsMax.  The further explanation of terms that is covered in Spalter’s writings was very helpful in laying a foundation to move forward in learning more advanced modeling and lighting concepts.  One point that is explained is that geometry, being a main computational component for modeling, allows for portraying “three-dimensional bodies in two dimensions (projective systems, like eye and axonometric perspective)”(Madrazo, 2006, p. 73).The environment mapping, another term I looked up online, is used in 3dsMax.  With the advanced computing capacity of new computers, there are subsequently new rendering software improvements that allow for more advanced rendering methods to be used.  A lot of that development has been spawned by the Program of Computer Graphics at Cornell University.  The extent of their computing capabilities is very impressive. It shows that when you have a group of passionate people with the tools they need to ideate, there is a ripple effect that ends up benefiting many others. This use of computers in architecture and design is also affecting the educational system and how teachers teach and what students are expected to know upon graduation.

Contextualized:

                3d rendering software is already being used for interior architecture to show the client what the space would feel like through interior and exterior 3d models that are beautifully rendered. It also is used to help the designer to develop the design as well as be used as an innovation tool through the unique capabilities of the software. The improvement of the equipment and software is going to continue to impact interior designers using modeling and how the design process is explored. Development of easier to use interfaces will help, like the effect SketchUp has had on 3d work. The idea of creating a large digitizing surface which works with a cordless pen and a high-resolution display to be able to sketch comfortably would probably greatly increase the desire to utilize modeling software and this will also impact multiple other software products aimed at a similar audience. “Computer-driven explorations are expanding the way both educators and students think about architecture. Schools embracing the new technology will lead the way to bring about emergent forms of practice” (Snoonian & Cuff, 2001).

Argument:

                The usefulness/ relevance of knowing and using rendering software is most prominent in being able to present realistic images of the future building to clients before the final construction has taken place so that the design can be fully explained to the client. A better level of communication is allowed to occur with renderings that make the design development afterward much more targeted to the correct goals of the client. Misinterpretation of what the designer is trying to convey by using other less photorealistic methods can miss the mark because the client is not trained to the think and see in 3-d like designers are. The cost of miscommunication can be significant and wasteful. Being able to clearly indicate materiality and other details can truly represent the designer’s vision. “These techniques are highly popular in the field of Architecture and are used for presenting a visual of how a building will look post construction; in fact 3d Rendering can give us a clear idea of the texture of wall, flooring etc.”(Gourge, n.d.). The downside for 3d modeling software is that it still takes considerable time and training to obtain photorealistic renderings and can also involve dedicating a high-end computer just for rendering. It can also be a problem when a client is presented a rendering and then demands to see many more views, angles, etc.  Multiple rounds of modifications inevitably follow and a great deal of energy, personnel, and capital can be tied up in this single job function. Management of the client’s expectations and knowing where to spend money on such visual aids is becoming an important part of practice today.

                 I think that with future technology, like the large digital drafting surface, the development of technology will prompt a rapid change in the way that the designer designs.  I think that “the ongoing debate between architects who embrace digital design tools and those who wish drawings were still executed by hand has been growing in scope” and that the increase in technology will actually start to confront this debate and eventually fuse the two together.

References:

Gourge, M. (n.d.). Why Is 3D Rendering an Impeccable Part in the Field of Architecture? EzineArticles. Retrieved February 13, 2011, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Is-3D-Rendering-an-Impeccable-Part-in-the-Field-of-Architecture?&id=5054950

Madrazo, L. (2006). System of representation: A pedagogical model for design education in the information age. Digital Creativity, 17(2), 73-90.

Snoonian, D., & Cuff, D. (2001). Digital pedagogy: An essay. Architectural Record, 189(9), 200-205.