We all know that creating a 3D model takes a lot of work, especially when the very basics of a project are still being planned out. However, a lot of people overlook the more in-depth reasons that detailed CAD drawings and 3d models are so vital, especially in the architectural niche.
Walk-Throughs
One of the most powerful benefits of 3D design is being able to walk through a space and identify problems from eye level. Blueprints can often overlook simple design issues that might not have been obvious on paper, and practicality isn’t easy to judge from an overhead view.
Creating even the most basic 3D model of a space opens it up to a lot more scrutiny. Are the windows positioned correctly? Are certain hallways too thin? How quickly could somebody get from one side of the building to the other? These can all be major concerns in both residential and commercial properties.
With more detailed and fleshed-out models, this kind of walk-through becomes even more important. A design element might look amazing on paper, but cause some problems when translated into a 3D space. These problems are usually only visible when you see them for yourself, ideally from eye level.
Estimations
Drawing out designs is just as important as creating a 3D representation, but unlike sketched floorplans or blueprints, CAD doesn’t allow as much room for fudging numbers. When you’re working at a 1:1 scale, CAD & 3D architectural software doesn’t let you create a wall and simply say that it’s twelve feet across – you have to actually construct it in the software.
This means that you’re far less likely to get estimations that should work on paper, but don’t work in reality. Thanks to this, CAD can offer an extra level of care when it comes to planning out a space, limiting guesswork or issues with fitting multiple floorplans together.
Of course, drawn plans are just as important either way. Without CAD drawings, there would be no starting point for a 3D model, as well as for a photorealistic accurate representation of your design through architectural renderings, and they can provide useful base measurements that can then be easily translated into a three-dimensional space.
Three Dimensions
Taking all three dimensions into account is a vital part of constructing any building, especially one with multiple floors. Drawing up floorplans can help with the width and length of a space, but it doesn’t provide much information on height, which can be just as important.
Not only does a three-dimensional overview let you see the full structure instead of multiple ‘slices’, but it can also point out inconsistencies in the design that you may have overlooked. For example, certain rooms may overlap with one another, or stairways may not completely line up as intended.
This can even apply to much smaller issues, such as the way that certain windows are placed or how load-bearing walls are laid out. Something that works on one specific floor might become a mess when applied to all of them, and the taller a building is, the more errors there can be.
