01 Introduction
The shift from hand drafting to 3D modeling, real-time rendering, and AI-enhanced visuals marks a revolution in design workflows. What should designers do to embrace and capitalize on these technologies to push the envelope of creativity?
In this exclusive interview, SWA Shanghai will share their insights with us on how to integrate cutting-edge technologies into the design workflow, based on existing skills and experiences, to improve efficiency and quality.
SWA Group is a multinational firm working on landscape design for 65 years based in USA. SWA Shanghai, established in 2011, is its full-service design office located overseas. The team is committed to promoting community harmony through systematic landscape design, creating many projects with clear functionality, high recognition, and profound significance.
02 Design Workflow Reshaped by Real-time Rendering
Rooted in the landscape field for many years, the SWA Shanghai office has created unique and classic works ranging from small private spaces to large public multi-functional complexes, including Guangming OCT Trail, New York Hunter's Point South Park, OCT Bay and more.
SWA Shanghai's extensive project experience has enriched their design acumen and spurred workflow innovation in response to the dynamic design market.
"We have to speed up the conceptual design stage to follow up the fast pace of project progress."
Traditional workflow which follows the linear sequence of 'modeling > rendering > model modifying > re-rendering' requires an initially formed model before refinements in a rendering software. Yet it doesn't meet the requirements of landscape design that has to incorporate vegetation at the very early stage.
"We can observe the volumetric relationships between models in Rhino, but we need a more straightforward approach to evaluate the integration of vegetation, lighting, and materials. The engine we previously used for simultaneous modeling and rendering barely meets our expectations for precise and instant rendering feedback."
Logical and fluid thinking is crucial at the initial stage, which is why designers strive to minimize frequent switching between different software. The Rhino-D5 real-time workflow excels in this area with its LiveSync feature, which bridges the gap between separate processes. The design team can import rough models into D5 to edit and review materials, vegetation, and lighting within a realistic environment.
"We are able to observe what's insufficient in the scene and thus modify the models accordingly and review them in D5 after one-click import. It enhances the connection between design, model, and render, streamlining the workflow."
Designers can precisely and efficiently deliver their ideas to both colleagues and clients with the help of D5's accurate real-time rendering to advance the whole project forward.
03 Creative Visions Delivered by High-quality Visualization
The Dalang Litou Mountain Sports Park (hereinafter referred to as the Sports Park), located in Shenzhen and bordering the Dalang Fashion Town, forms an integral part of Guanlan Mountain Forest Park. The project integrates green ecology into the modern city vibe, building an urban park both humanistic and eco-friendly.
Within the park, the Tree Museum stands as a landmark observation deck following the mountain's terrain. It features innovative semi-transparent fabric material, resembling a light veil draped among the trees when viewed from a distance. In harmony with the adjacent fashion town, the architecture is nestled within the lush foliage, providing shelter and fostering interaction between visitors and nature.
Rendering large landscapes is challenging due to the demands on asset count, scattering effectiveness, and software capacity. SWA Shanghai overcomes this by using the D5 Asset Library and vegetation tools to scatter realistic plants, achieving both efficiency and quality.
"We used to buy extra asset packs for visualization. But the built-in plant model library of D5 -- both diverse and high-quality -- has saved our day, especially with the local species.The brush tool's ability to place multiple plant types at once is remarkably easy to use."
Furthermore, the wealth of materials in D5 Asset Library facilitates the team in effectively completing the surrounding structures.
"D5 Asset Library offers extensive architectural PBR materials that make the simulation of bumpy surfaces easy, allowing us landscape architects to create impressive visuals quickly."
''Eco-friendliness'' and ''low carbon'' principles have been featured in SWA Shanghai's designs.
As an iconic representation, the 'Carbon-free Lab' serves as an experimental, cultivable plant tower. It harnesses the growth and healing capabilities of plants and horticultural techniques to replace conventional steel facades with the lattice-like structure formed by trees.
This design ensures both stability, load-bearing capacity, and sustainability. Visitors can ascend the stairs for a close-up exploration of this natural hub.
In scenes heavy with assets, SWA Shanghai organizes characters, plants, and buildings into separate layers to determine if anything needs to be added or deleted.
"We will place assets that are only visible from certain perspectives into a layer and hide that layer when it is not needed. For instance, we once prepared two models for a pool's water and placed them into distinct layers to represent the change in water level by toggling the respective layer on or off."
The intuitive environment system in D5 has helped SWA Shanghai create compelling atmospheres with simple controls such as sliders and switches.
"The environments in D5 are spot-on, especially when it comes to Tyndall effect and backlighting. We've also got pro-level controls for post-processing. If the sky's too bright, we can tweak the local exposure parameter to restore details. It's like having Photoshop built right into our workflow, but way easier."
Beyond high-quality output visuals, real-time rendering underlies the accelerated cycle of communication-revise-output for SWA Shanghai to strike a great balance between quality and speed at the scheme stage.
"After receiving feedback, we can make instant adjustments. The speed of rendering aerial-view landscapes has also seen a remarkable boost, around 5-10 times faster than before. Since D5 2.6 introduced the Walk Mode, we've got more flexibility to simulate the eye-level view with enhanced precision, thus giving clients a more immersive experience."
04 Incorporating Advanced Technology into Design
The Sports Park was the inaugural project that SWA Shanghai undertook using D5 Render. Initially, there were challenges because MIST Architects utilized D5 while SWA Shanghai did not, leading to issues such as inconsistent visual styles and incompatible models caused by the use of different assets within the same area. Nevertheless, SWA Shanghai was ultimately convinced by the superior quality of D5 and opted to transition to D5 Render.
"Initial concerns about new software adoption were overcome by using official tutorials and practice. We addressed issues by utilizing resources from D5 Help Center. Learning from influencer videos and studying preset render scenes from D5 Scene Express improved understanding and confidence in the use of D5."
The project features numerous innovative design elements, such as the lengthy, corridor-like semi-open visitor center, which provides a unique experience and blends with the surroundings, moving away from traditional boxy structures.
SWA Shanghai's hallmark is their innovative spirit, departure from conventional practices, and proficiency in integrating new tools to deliver context-sensitive, high-standard designs.
Embracing the AIGC wave, the team is proactively harnessing AI in design for creative inspiration and training AI models for visualizing environments.
SWA Shanghai holds the belief that the ever-evolving technologies are bound to usher in a fresh wave of design revolution. Accordingly, designers should keep pace with the advance and assert themselves as the leaders in design while embracing artificial intelligence to serve their needs. They can sketch out a broader vision by continuously pushing beyond traditional design boundaries.
This also resonates with D5's values that we consistently pioneer the integration of advanced technology with creative visualization, making it easier to visualize inner concepts effectively.
"We were surprised to see that D5 2.6 has added AI features. AI-generated Material Texture Maps is the most impressive one since it's incredibly helpful for fine-tuning textures like wood grain and floor tiles."
05 Conclusion
As we embrace the surge of novel technologies and instruments, let us allow the rich harvest of our experiences and insights to act as the nurturing ground for cultivating creative thought, rather than shackles that limit our potential.
Looking ahead, D5 will continue its journey with more designers who dare to venture into uncharted waters, exploring new paths and using technology to elevate artistry, thus delivering more delightful design experiences.
