For clients, it’s often difficult to visualise what a finished project will look like. Architects and engineers are always looking for new solutions to see off potential problems at the pass. Computer-generated designs are getting progressively more complex, but nothing really compares to really putting yourself in the space.
This can lead to issues later down the line, where once the bricks and mortar are laid, clients change their minds about layouts or dimensions. Of course, it creates extra costs, time delays, and in the worst cases, tension between stakeholders. However, new technologies are emerging thick and fast to help engineers breathe life into their projects before they even break ground.
One such idea, which we shared on our LinkedIn recently, is lifesize projections of floor plans. These “walkable plans” allow clients to see the layout of the project at a 1:1 scale at the design stage. Proponents of this technology say that it creates a more life-like experience than a 3D model.
Beaming plans into the real world
Many people struggle with designs on paper or even on a computer. Space is naturally about your body, so a collection of lines on a page or a screen can rarely communicate what it will feel like to be in a building. Floor plan projections make an architectural drawing lifesize. By beaming the layout onto a floor, at life-size scale, the architect or contractor can walk the client through it and give them a feel for the dimensions.
The designers of these high-tech visualisations claim it’s the missing step in the design process. But it’s not just a gimmick staged for discerning clients; it can also generate significant time and cost changes later down the line. As we know all too well, changes to a floor plan during the build cause substantial delays at great expense.
It also compresses months of calls and emails into a single design review, where you can make changes instantly. Although hiring the space and equipment for the projection is pricey, it could represent value for money.
What might the next generation of planning tools hold?
With tools like 3D printing, real-time renders and drones changing the way that we plan, construct and maintain buildings, it’s clear that the industry is evolving at a rapid pace. But what might the future hold? With the arrival of these life-size floor plans, the demand for next-generation visualisation will undoubtedly rise.
Perhaps what we’ll see next is even more ambitious projections, where we can visualise height and depth with 3D holograms. The big question will be how to make these tools accessible so that more people can take advantage of them. Right now, floorplan projections cost thousands to organise, which will be a major barrier to small firms.
That said, many thought that 3D printing would always be prohibitively expensive and now is comparatively affordable. As we progress, we could start seeing more affordable formats so firms can start maximising their savings.