Real-Time Visualization Software For Architects

AB design studio takes center stage in Architect magazine's special section on real-time visualization software, highlighting the firm's innovative integration of digital tools and their profound influence on architectural practice.

In the dynamic realm of architectural innovation, the intersection of design and technology often heralds groundbreaking advancements. Recently, AB design studio, a trailblazing architectural firm renowned for its forward-thinking approach, found itself under the spotlight in a special section of Architect magazine. This section, dedicated to real-time visualization software Twinmotion, showcased AB design studio's mastery of these digital tools and their transformative impact on architectural practice. As we delve into this captivating feature, we uncover the pivotal role of real-time visualization software in shaping the future of architectural design.

TWINMOTION— A NEW VISUALIZATION TOOL FOR ARCHITECTS

ADVANCES IN ARCHITECTURAL VISUALIZATION 

This is an incredible time for architects with the recent developments in software that can change the practice of architecture. What used to be capabilities only  accessible to visualization specialists, are now available in software that can be easily used by architects — to explore design concepts and to advance your projects with your clients. These are advances that can significantly assist architects to explore “what if” design possibilities of your own ideas and move to the “like this” phase, when you show these ideas to your clients.

Some of the advances that have occurred recently are what we’ve always wanted and needed in software for architecture. Some are even beyond what we thought possible. With the speed of real-time renderings tools, architects can accomplish more design progress, in less time, all in a more continuous workflow. This will increase our efficiency and effectiveness for us as architects.

Twinmotion, is a real-time architectural visualization software tool. Being part of video game and software developer Epic Games, Twinmotion leverages the company’s Unreal Engine technology to help architects create a range of visuals from sketches to photorealistic visuals in real-time immersive experiences. Epic Games’ vision is for a more connected architectural de-sign workflow, avoiding dead ends, reducing mis-communication, and eliminating the need to redo work in multiple software programs. Twinmotion enables you to quickly import your CAD/BIM files into Twinmotion to further your design and pres-ent ideas in a real-time environment with instant visual feedback. So, no time or work is lost in the process. For many architects Twinmotion will be all you need. You will enjoy learning and exploring the possibilities. Twinmotion allows you to work in teams. You can quickly and easily share data during in-house collaborations and also bring this ease and speed to interaction with your clients. 

Twinmotion was created by architects for architects. They focused on ease of use so that any-one can easily get the software and start using it quickly, without having to invest hours learning complex rendering workflows. At the same time, Twinmotion is fully supported for professional architects with a wide range of tutorials, online webinars, and courses to assist your introduction and use of this real-time, visualization tool.

Twinmotion is part of the Epic Ecosystem. It is part of a continuum of software and tools. For those wanting to take their visualizations further, Twinmotion files can be easily imported into Unreal Engine to leverage the advanced feature set of that software. With Unreal Engine’s powerful features your team has the open-ended flexibility and creative freedom to truly differentiate your projects with sophisticated software used by movie and television productions studios. As you will read in the following interviews, some architecture firms are already taking advantage of this capability.

As an architect very involved in the use of computers in architecture from the beginning, I have the pleasure of knowing many architects who do incredible work and incorporate computer hardware and software in their practices. This special section includes interviews with a range of architectural practices as examples for you to see how Twinmotion is already being used in architectural firms.

So don’t only take my word for it, read these examples about how architects — in small, medium and large firms, even universities — are already using Twinmotion in their projects. Be in-spired by their stories and then imagine how this technology could be used in your own practice with your projects!

COLLABORATION   IN A MID-SIZE   ARCHITECTURE FIRM - AB design studio, inc.

AB Design Studio is a full-service architecture, interior design and urban planning studio. Clay Aurell and Josh Blumer, are the founding partners of AB Design and have maintained the company’s interest in functioning as a creative architecture studio, while growing to 25 - 30 people, with offices in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.

For this interview I spoke with partner Josh Blumer and Will Rivera a project architect.  In addition to his architecture projects, Will has worked on architecture models for TV and Film projects. Will commented: “In the past, I experienced a level of collaboration during those film and television projects that I had never experienced in an architecture firm…until I joined AB Design.” AB Design is currently using Epic Games’ Twinmotion and plans to use Epic Games Unreal Engine on future projects. 

At AB Design, team members are encouraged to collaborate between all levels and members of the studio. As Josh Blumer explains: “It is important that our use of software, like Twinmotion, works for us to carry out the collaborative model in our firm. By encouraging an openness to new ideas, the collaborative studio process allows our projects to independently evolve to reflect each specific project.”

“Our work requires not only the in-house collaboration of our teams, but extends to collaboration with our consultants and our clients. Soft-ware, like Twinmotion, helps us carry this out.

Bringing architecture to life—VR and Twinmotion “We can bring our Archicad, Rhino, and other soft-ware assets into Twinmotion and can begin arrang-ing furniture and populating the space with people in the design. Perhaps the most important aspect of Twinmotion for us, is that it allows us to view our designs immersively and get a sense of the spaces we are creating, early in the design phase. The re-ality of architecture is being in the space and mov-ing around and looking around, not viewing static forms and images. We are creating, viewing and able to see the design in a meaningful way — the way the building will be experienced after it is built.”

“We use Oculus VR goggles with Twinmotion to experiment with early design. In this way we can quickly and easily explore the preliminary design of the building, the spaces, view various materials in the building, at different times of day, as we are siting and orienting the building.”

This brings the experience of the building when complete, into our early design for our own and our client’s viewing. We use this method, be-cause it helps us collaborate and move our de-signs forward more efficiently, than in the past.”

“Using tools like Twinmotion in our process, gives us the experience similar to walking into a building when it is under construction or when it is completed.... it’s that “moment of truth” when you can enter the building, look around and see how the design looks. This method, helps us collaborate and move our designs forward more ef-ficiently. Now we can make that experience part of early design and make adjustments as we further develop the design.”