Green architecture design came with the wave of acute –green- consciousness that took pop culture by storm a few years ago, renewing a focus on ensuring environmental sustainability for future generations.
What is Green Design?
Green design refers to the use of They reduce this impact through the strategic use of materials and space while promoting the energy efficiency of the structures with various techniques, while designing with ecological responsibility and conservation in mind. Aside from reducing our footprint as a society, green architects also seek to develop unique structures that are visually appealing, which can at times get rather tricky.
Since green buildings often incorporate unique lines and styling, architects can sometimes struggle when trying to accurately portray what a finished structure will look like to the end client. To overcome this challenge, green architects often work with 3D rendering specialists.
What is 3d Rendering?
3D rendering is the modern replacement for the hand drawn renderings of yester-year. An accurately designed 3D rendering seeks to create a photo-realistic depiction of a structure that does not yet exist. In doing so, the rendering artist is often able to bring potential design issues to light before development begins, saving the builder hundreds of thousands of dollars in many cases. 3D renderings are also very helpful to architects pitching a design as it allows the end client to visualize and connect with the space which can be the difference between selling a space and simply showing it.
Different green architecture trends are making a splash on new buildings, homes, and cities around the globe and with the help of renderings to ease the transition, it is not a trend likely to end anytime soon.
Green Structures Must Be Extreme…Right?
No! As a matter of fact, The achievement of healthier, less energy consuming, and self-sustaining structures can be achieved through simple changes such as designing the rooms to be arranged a certain way or to a certain pole -to exploit the amount of sunlight that enters the room-, with smaller sized homes and the strategic placement of windows with smart glass, highly insulated glass that helps maintain the climates inside the homes or offices.
Green Initiatives for the Urban Scene
While small changes can make a meaningful impact in homes, green design can be applied on a large scale, such as entire cities. Carefully calculated rural plans include specific placement of buildings and the distance between structures. This is done to maximize naturally available energy while recapturing and repurposing resources such as waste water.
One common use for waste water is plant irrigation. Several cities maintain their plants exclusively with reclaimed water. Plants and trees offer an obvious but previously not popular solution for the conservation of energy. The use of trees that lose their leaves in certain seasons are used to block sunlight in the summer while allowing full light in the winter. Evergreen plants do not change with the seasons and as such are used to help block cold winds during the winter.
A Closer Look at Green Building Materials
There are several building materials that can be used to increase the efficiency of a building, reducing its reliance on energy. Let’s assume that you live in a warm climate, the use of stone in the development of your home can help in keeping your home cooler on hot days, reducing your energy use.
Aside from planning a structure around factors such a temperature, green designs also pay close attention to the use of readily renewable resources. Bamboo is one such example, since bamboo grows rapidly, it makes a great building material.
Solar Panels Still Making the Cut
Solar panels are certainly not a new concept but new ways are still being found to implement them more effectively. Originally solar panels where often added as an afterthought to a building. As the focus on green design continues to grow, solar panels have shifted from being an afterthought to being at the core of the building process. Everything from how the building is angled and positioned to the type of glass used is done with the intention of improving the efficiency of the structure.
Change may be for the better but people still are reluctant to accept it, especially when the proposed changes could cost millions of dollars. This fear creates barriers for architects trying to push the envelope and set new standards for green design. In this push for innovation, a 3D rendering artist can be the best friend of an architect.
Animations and virtual tours
Earlier we touched briefly on 3D rendering and its’ ability to allow the end client to envision a building, but did you know that 3D rendering can go well beyond static images? Walk through animations and virtual tours can be created, fully submersing the end client into a structure.
Don’t like how something looks? Is a space awkward or uncomfortable? Create renderings that show alternate options and save time and money before the build. While 3D rendering is a great tool for standard building, the complexity of green structures brings out the true value of including renderings in your design process.
In combination, green architects and 3D rendering artists have the ability to dream up and produce the next generation of trendsetting green structures.
Images “Set of isolated clouds over green. Design elements / Shutterstock.com“
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