Our example model has already been cropped nicely. Crop your model so that it only shows the important context elements.3D software of your choice (this demonstration uses Rhino).3D model (download sample project here).Iterative design: the design process will present a multitude of changes and iterations digitally rendering model iterations is a beautiful way can show how you ended up with the final design.Money: rendering will only cost a few cents on your electricity bill compared to the hundreds of dollars you would spend on real materials.

Time: if you are under a tight timeline, you may consider going digital.No materiality is expressed, so the building is presented as a pure formal intervention on the site. In our example, the architecture and surrounding entourage is denoted with a white plastic-like finish while the landscape is contrasted with a solid wood finish.

Beyond having a physical presence, the beauty of the physical model comes from the simplification of the project into just a few materials, maintaining a sense of purity within the project itself and conveying its conceptual clarity. The physical model has always stood at the forefront of not only final presentations, but also the architectural design process. Byron Cai is the lead editor at Archi Hacks, a platform dedicated to architecture visualization, portfolio, and design tips and tricks for students and professionals.

Render in rhino