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Let's Design Architecture Limited - Architectural Design Services based near Stowmarket, Suffolk

Home
Services
Overview
Design
Measured Survey
Planning Applications
Get Planning Permission
Architectural Planning Conditions
Retrospective Planning Applications
Building Regulations
Principal Designer
Project Management
Photoshop Services
Physical Model Making
Digital Model Making
Projects
Gallery - All Projects
Extensions
New Build
Outbuildings
Conversions
Holiday Units
Other Projects
Profile
Reviews
Contact
News
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3D Sketchup Case Studies

Using 3D Imagery to render Site Topography and Design Projects

EXTENSIONS - NEW BUILD - OUTBUILDINGS - CONVERSIONS - HOLIDAY UNITS - OTHER PROJECTS

Featured
KENTON: PROPOSED GARAGE SHOWN IN CONTEXT
KENTON: PROPOSED GARAGE SHOWN IN CONTEXT

Presentation of a 3D image showing a garage proposed near to a listed building, shown in context with its surroundings.

Kenton Project

DEBENHAM: SITE MASSING FEASIBILITY STUDY
DEBENHAM: SITE MASSING FEASIBILITY STUDY

A study to show the relationship of a proposed development (by others) in context with the surrounding buildings.

Site feasibility study

BENHALL: HOUSING LAYOUT
BENHALL: HOUSING LAYOUT

For the 9 house development in Benhall, I mocked up a 3D site drawing to show the position of the houses and be able to ‘fly through’ the site at eye level, showing how they sit together.

Benhall Project

BENHALL: 3D VISUAL
BENHALL: 3D VISUAL

The 3D image was able to show the form of the properties before they actually took shape on site.

BENHALL: VIEW OF THE SITE
BENHALL: VIEW OF THE SITE

This is an actual photograph (not block model) taken from almost the same angle as the 3D model view, showing how accurately it compares and how Sketchup can be used to help visualize a development such as this.

FELIXSTOWE: URBAN CONTEXT
FELIXSTOWE: URBAN CONTEXT

I was appointed to design a very simple single storey property in Felixstowe on a corner plot adjacent to the Client’s house.

FELIXSTOWE: SKETCHUP VIEWS
FELIXSTOWE: SKETCHUP VIEWS

Using the 3D model, I was able to take a street view across from the far side of the green, to show the property in relation to the other housing around it.

FELIXSTOWE: RENDERED IMAGE
FELIXSTOWE: RENDERED IMAGE

I took the sketch view from Sketchup and hand coloured it, using a range of techniques, using both hand colouring and enhancing on Photoshop, showing how the property blends in with its surroundings.

HAUGHLEY
HAUGHLEY

The site had outline permission for two houses in the 1980’s which had expired a long time ago. Planning rules have changed a lot since then and it is more difficult to obtain permission for schemes in rural areas.

HAUGHLEY: BRIEF
HAUGHLEY: BRIEF

My job was to obtain a new outline permission and I produced this block model to show the layout of the plots. Following objections to this proposal, I went on to obtain permission for my Client for one large house with double garage on the site.

HAUGHLEY: CONTEXT
HAUGHLEY: CONTEXT

This view shows the site from the road frontage. The plot was a corner plot at a road junction. Although it did not obtain permission first time round, the Client was pleased that in the end he was able to sell his site with a valid permission for one large property.

DENNINGTON - CONCEPT DESIGN
DENNINGTON - CONCEPT DESIGN

When working up the concept for the project at Dennington, a number of design ideas were presented to the customer, including this unusual roof design - using Sketchup I could easily explain how it would look. The Clients went back to a more simple design for ease of construction, although they liked how this design worked.

HOXNE
HOXNE

Block model showing a Class Q barn conversion with the addition of a linked extension following the removal of some old nissen huts.

HOXNE: WIRE FRAME
HOXNE: WIRE FRAME

Wire frame image, showing the layout of the property. The 3D image was produced to show the Client how the roof form would work.

IPSWICH: SITE TOPOGRAPHY
IPSWICH: SITE TOPOGRAPHY

Working from a topographical survey which the Client had undertaken by a third party, I lifted the spot levels up to create a 3D wireframe model of the contours of the site in Sketchup. This model would prove useful in determining where the proposals would sit on site and how the levels, where they vary dramatically adjacent the existing building, would work regarding the regrading of the land.

IPSWICH: 3D VISUAL - SHADING
IPSWICH: 3D VISUAL - SHADING

The shading on the wireframe model shows the detail of the variation in ground levels more clearly.

IPSWICH: 3D MODEL - EXISTING HOUSE
IPSWICH: 3D MODEL - EXISTING HOUSE

I modelled the existing house from the set of measured survey plans which I undertook myself on site. I created this separately to the contour plan and brought it in to the overall model as a group.

IPSWICH: TOPOGRAPHICAL SITE WITH HOUSE - AS EXISTING
IPSWICH: TOPOGRAPHICAL SITE WITH HOUSE - AS EXISTING

Once I brought the existing house in to the model, I cleared the wireframe from the image and left just the lines which defined the edge of the driveway and the main drop in levels of the land outside the house. This clearly shows how the house sits within the existing landscape.

IPSWICH: CONCEPTUAL 3D MODEL
IPSWICH: CONCEPTUAL 3D MODEL

Once I had developed the scheme design based on my plans and the topographical levels provided, I added an effect to the model to soften it and make it appear 'sketchy'.

Gallery
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