Tom Fitzgerald

Oona,
LEED has been growing extremely fast these couple of years, at least in California and the bay area. Clients, public and private, are becoming much more aware of LEED and are requesting that we follow the requirements whether they are or are not applying for accreditation on a project. About half of our office of 50 is now LEED certified.…[Read more]

Sketchup doesn’t have the accuracy. It is clumsy in comparison. I have never drawn a vector in 3ds 300,000′ on accident like I have in sketchup. One of the reasons you dont see process drawings in 3ds is that you would have to render them and due to the fact that 3ds is such a fluid process it doesn’t make much sense to do that. The idea that…[Read more]

Rfox,
maybe we could start up a forum called “new and exciting software” or something along those lines? do you have any ideas?.. I think as 3ds group we should try to grow this dialog on cutting edge design software, i think its pretty valueble to us and the profession.

i agree. i think i do pretty well at envisioning a space in my mind when designing, but this is always imperfect. I think it is extremely helpful to throw initial design ideas into 3ds to get a clear idea of what is working, viewsheds, scale ect… then pull back and design more. I think people should take advantage of the flexibility of using the…[Read more]

I’ve used 3ds max in the design development phase a good bit. For me its much easier and quicker to take a CAD site map into 3d max and pop up buildings, basic trees, etc. Doesn’t look pretty but it gives you a better feel for your site and its alot more accurate and faster than sketchup.

can we get some examples up RFox? Maybe pictures and links? Thank for the comment. Would love to see some one who is using it consistently.

The real power of 3d software as a design tool comes with the use of BIM and parametric software. Personally I am looking at the use of Digital Project and software developed by Gehry Technologies from the engineering software Catia.

It is good because design and landscape are all about relationships, whether they be spatial or connection. DP…[Read more]

one thing I find interesting is the advertisement for Vectorworks in the upper right hand corner. Does anyone use it?

Nick, happy to see you on here. I could go on for days, however, I think the one thing you need is an unbelievable familiarity with the software. That keeps you quick. In terms of these being final renderings I am not sure, I think they probably are but at the moment I and a number of others are doing there complete drawing set in 3ds. In terms of…[Read more]

another reason squint opera is so good, is the fact that they are showing obvious aging and patina of materials. So many times in 3D models, the final product looks great, but too perfect. As designers using the computer as a medium, I think we need to pay more attention to the “imperfect” parts of design and how they can really convey a sense of place…

just to let you all know, when i put up the new images of the week i will place the old ones in the gallery. I also put a topic for discussion in there. If you know of any firms you want me to take a look at for next week let me know. also if you would like me to mix in some of your personal work let me know. first images of the week worked out! right on.

Squint opera is a media and film production studio
http://www.squintopera.com/#/studio/
i understand, that although they employ also architects they don’t design places.

it might not be practical for us to spend that much time for creating renderings or animation. i also suppose they apply a variety of progarmmes, such as maya or 3ds max, after…[Read more]

hello to all the members. i have to learn this one. very nice.

Is Squint just a rendering firm or do they actually design as well? Their animations are pretty amazing but it doesn’t seem practical for anybody outside Hollywood to spend that much time and money creating such comprehensive animations.

hi everyone, i just sign to this group. I have my own company here in UAE (Ajman) for (planning – designing – production – installation – construction) theme stages, wedding events, artificial rock work, fiberglass casting, mall decors, theme parks etc… check my profile i have lots of sample pictures of what my company has to offer. can anybody…[Read more]

the mvdrv visuals are certainly very well crafted, but what i appreciate more in squint opera’s and sla’s visuals is that they convey athmosphere, a sence of place and they “tell a story”, they are charming and especially the second one of squint opera evokes a fairytale. they make me wonder and curious ot learn more about the project.

for next…[Read more]

hahaha. well i guess i wasnt doing it correctly. im a dork of dorks.

Jim is absolutey correct. What is there process. Let’s find out and post it. maybe some of our European friends can call them. Utube demos would be great. One more thing, we should try to get some of these people to NDSU.