20 Architectural renders that break the mold

20 Architectural renders that break the mold

Posted on 04. May, 2009 by Andrew Price in Articles

Architecture on it’s own is boring. It’s everywhere we look, and to the rest of the world, it’s nothing more than a way to keep the rain off our heads.

It takes a lot of talent to turn an object mostly comprised of right angles into something you could call art, but that’s exactly what this post is about. Today I present you with a list of the most beautiful architectural renders ever created. They weren’t all made in Blender (in fact none of them are), but every one of them speaks emotion through the use of lighting, texturing and a carefully selected colour palette.

20. Rem Koolhaas Bordeaux House by Dimitar Rashkov

Rem Koolhaas Bordeaux House
Rem Koolhaas Bordeaux House

19. Restaurant by the sea by Stefano Di Noia

Stefano Di Noia

18. 0528 by Mike Johnson

0528

17. Forest Refuge by Alex Roman

Forest Refuge

Forest Refuge3

Forest Refuge2

16. Phillips Exeter Academy Library by Alex Roman

Phillips Exeter Academy Library1

exPhillips Exeter Academy Library2

15. Naoshima by Alex Roman

Naoshima

14. Four Cubes Business Centre by Azuolas Juskenas

Four Cubes Business Centre

13. Church on the water by Karuna Karan

Church on the water

12. Office building at night by Viktor Fretyán

Office Building at night

11. Dormitory by Viktor Fretyán

Dormitory

10. Row House by Viktor Fretyán (designed by Tadao Ando)

Row House

9. Interior in a classical style by Viktor Fretyán

Interior in a classical style

8. House at the beach by Viktor Fretyán

House at the beach

7. House by Viktor Fretyán (designed by Satoshi Okada)

House

House

House

6. With view on the river by Sébastien Gaudard

sebastien-gaudard

5. Brosmith Residence by Sébastien Gaudard

Brosmith Residence

Brosmith Residence

Brosmith Residence

4. Exterior Test Scene by Michal Konwicki

Exterior Test Scene

3. Kitchen in big house by Stanislav Orekhov

Kitchen in big house

2. Mies van der Rohe Farnsworth House by Alessandro Prodan

Mies van der Rohe Farnsworth House1

Mies van der Rohe Farnsworth House2

Mies van der Rohe Farnsworth House3

Mies van der Rohe Farnsworth House4

1. Ras-Al Khaimah by MIR Visuals

Ras-Al Khaimah3

Ras-Al Khaimah2

Ras-Al Khaimah1

Have I missed anything? Which piece do you like most and why? Post your comment below!

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24 Responses to “20 Architectural renders that break the mold”

  1. Lisa RM

    04. May, 2009

    Wow! They are all amazing. Are they all done strictly w/Blender. I’m still learning and trying, but clearly not even coming close this level of reality.

  2. apathysuperstar

    04. May, 2009

    I dont understand the statement “Architecture on its own is boring.” since of the renders you have chosen the most successful and believable are simply digital recreations of buildings that exist.

    These renderings are amazing, but I think you are undrestimating the Art which was created by the Architect, their choice of materials, and the right angles.

  3. Andrew Price

    04. May, 2009

    Hi apathysuperstar,
    My statement that ‘architecture is boring’, merely reflects on my own impression on living in a city. When you see huge tall buildings everyday of your life, it starts to look ugly. But I will agree that some buildings are very beautiful.

    @Lisa RM No, in fact none of these renders were created with Blender. I chose renders from all walks of software (mostly 3ds Max) to broaden the scope of entries.

    Thanks for your input guys!

  4. Nic Bischoff

    05. May, 2009

    Thanks for the list – there were a few I haven’t seen before.

  5. kilon

    05. May, 2009

    “‘architecture is boring” , . “But I will agree that some buildings are very beautiful.”

    So what you are trying to say is that BAD architecture is boring. I agree.

  6. Ludde

    14. May, 2009

    Some of them are ok..but some of them are not very realistic :)

  7. Woodge

    05. Jun, 2009

    I really like #19 Restaurant by the sea. Very intimate.

  8. Mike

    08. Jun, 2009

    I’d be interested in knowing which ones don’t look realistic but more specifically why because each made ‘for a lack of better words at the moment’ sense. I actually didn’t delve deep into each but just imagined each ones unique effect between architecture and nature and I see how each in their own way can be real.

    Who was it that once quoted “Some people see things as they are and say why, but I see things that aren’t so and ask why not” Kennedy I believe.

    Thanks again Andrew Price for another good posting. Hey after seeing the nice work you did with that article on texturing that grass with blender, I think you can make some kind of nice mixture yourself embodying nature and architecture. I hope next post you have regarding such great artform should be from blender users…

  9. Nixon

    14. Jun, 2009

    all of those renders are really fine works of art,
    some look a lil better like the farnsworth house but i guess it’S just personal preference …
    some of those originals I seen in books ( at least I think i did )
    on modern architecture of the 60′s and 70′s wich was kinda sublime by itself ,
    i kinda miss one wich is hangin off a cliff:D…but thats just a good idea to try it out myself…compared to those its gonna be an epic phail lol…

    cool pics Mr. Price!

  10. sebastien

    13. Oct, 2009

    Hi,

    I dont know for the other renderings, but mines are made only with 3dsmax.
    Cheers

    Segocarib

  11. peaceman

    21. Jan, 2010

    these are some good renderings but a lot are built modern classic houses. so photo references are available and the focus is often just the mood of the picture. i find it much harder more interesting to create a great image of something that does not exist, that you have to fight about with your clients, creating a look and not only trying to copy nature….

    but i agree mostly great, great renderings and good material for learning, learning, learning….

  12. Ron Martin

    22. Jan, 2010

    Architecture is very far from being boring. It’s a science and an art and is directly related to our human body and the way we spend our life.

    Its hardly understandable why anybody would say something like this.

  13. Andy

    22. Jan, 2010

    There’s another resource for great architecture renderings. Check out this site:

    http://www.luxigon.com/images/

  14. hanksan

    24. Jan, 2010

    First of all… these rendering are quite remarkable. Beautiful and thought provoking! Thank you for showing them.

    On the topic of “Architecture being boring!” Yes, many building are indeed boring, but that does not mean that architecture is boring in general. Many can’t fathom the complexity involved in creating a typical building… let alone for a unique piece of art like many depicted here.

    I understand how some may only see the mundane in architecture, but there are many that can move the soul! Architecture is an art of space and time. Although mostly seen in 2D, one must “Be” in the space to truly appreciate it. These renderings in my opinion are so great because they get close to placing the viewer in that space… vicariously standing before it, smelling, hearing and feeling the surroundings. That is what truly makes a great rendering. Going beyond the “boring” and striving for the profound.

    I am passionate about architecture. Unfortunately many in the field are not and do create the uninspired environment riddling our landscape. These renders achieve the magnificent! Thank you for sharing!

  15. zak mensh

    13. Mar, 2010

    would you make a tutorial how to render this Awesome rendering lease ?!

    Thanks .. it’s an amazing collection indeed

  16. Petronius

    22. Mar, 2010

    Well, off Topic I´d say, I live in Germany in a country cottage, but I really don´t like it. I need people all around me. Everyone needs a contrast :D
    BTT: Okay, the Renders are well, but the buildings shown are not very excellent. Only the ones like the Exeter library and the house designed by Satoshi Okada. Those are good: Good Model, good Render

    Greets

  17. simon

    16. Apr, 2010

    The level of rendering shown here is something I aspire to. I have done a lot of work with Revit (without Max the old accurender results were mundane at best), and work with Sketucp and Kerkythea, also without a lot of post processing the results I have achieved are, well, pedestrian at best. Hence me learning Blender (though still a total nood WRT “precision modelling”).

    On the topic of Architecture being borning. I think a lot of architecture is mundane and functional and driven by budget rather than art. However, great architecture does enhance our lives through our interaction and experience of it.

    BTW Andrew, thanks for all the tuts, watching your videos shows me just how un-fluent I am with Blender so far, yet you inspire me to get to that level of control.

  18. titaniumpen

    26. Apr, 2010

    I don’t agree with most of the rankings, but nevertheless the renders are all impressive. It would be nice for the artists to add some people – some of the renders look too cool.

  19. John A.M.

    03. May, 2010

    WOW are you sure all of those are renders not photos?
    kidding :D

  20. blaise onction

    05. May, 2010

    Great !!! but where can we find more ways to improve render on blender .

  21. Kewl Luser

    27. Jun, 2010

    amazing article… u sure picked the best… i could hardly discernthe slight 3d look i normally pick up on renders… they are so realistic!!! awesome!!

    thanks

  22. Aditya

    02. Jul, 2010

    Great to see the reach of the human quality… to show the creative identity of work….

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