Design and construction is an expensive process. Any change to layout or materials when construction is underway means extra cost, so the industry wants clients to have an accurate vision of a home or building before the first shovel hits the ground. Design changes are easier and less expensive for the architect than with hand drawings. Builders can avoid expensive mid-project changes. And clients get a realistic image of the final product, allowing them to understand and move forward with the project.
Basic sketches and floor plans used to be the most common way for architects and builders to describe, market and sell their homes and buildings, and they still have a place in the industry. But 2D drawings and plans don’t always translate to buyers. It can be difficult to grasp how one room flows into another or what the building looks in the context of its surroundings. Advancements in technology and computer graphics have shifted the momentum toward 3D architectural visualization. Images and motion pictures are better than words at securing sales, and they give the client a clearer representation of what they’re buying.