To fully implement the important instructions of cultural development and library business proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, the construction program of new Wuhan Library is officially launched in order to encourage reading habits among citizens, foster urban culture, improve civic literacy and build Wuhan into a highly competitive city of socialist spirits.
Following a people-oriented, open, flexible, eco-friendly, smart & intelligent philosophy and adhering to the idea of “Highlighting Wuhan Culture, National Visions and World Outlook”, the project aims to build a livelihood-centered, high-quality, benchmark project, in a bid to enhance the positioning of “Study + Living Room + Studio”.
Design Scope
New Wuhan Library is located at the core section of the central business district (CBD) of Wangjiadun, Wuhan where the Changqing Road joins the Yuncai Road. The planned land area is 4.33 hectares (65 mu), and the total floor area is 136,400 square meters, of which the floor area of the library is 100,000 square meters, the Local Chronicles Library is 10,000 square meters and the underground basement is 26,400 square meters (subject to the project proposal). The overall investment is around 1.8 billion CNY (land fee included).
The project is surrounded by abundant cultural, scenic and environmental resources. It is adjacent to a group of public facilities such as the Wuhan Museum, Wuhan Broadcasting and Television & Media Center (under construction), Oceanwide City Square. It is only around 500 meters away from the Wangjiadun Park and Houxianghe Park, and is easily accessible by the Fanhu Station and Yunfei Road Station of Line 2/3/7.
Project Location
Surrounding Land Use Conditions of the Project
Transport Conditions
Registration Requirements
Oversea enterprises and institutions with the status of legal person and experience in the design of cultural projects (completed or ongoing) are eligible for application.
Design institutions must be legally registered and have valid business license. Different design institutions and organizations with the same person in charge, or have an association of holding controlling interest or management, are not allowed to register simultaneously.
Consortiums with no more than 3 members are allowed to register, a written consortium agreement to clarify the lead unit and the respective responsibilities is needed. All units in one consortium cannot join in other consortiums or as an independent unit to register.
Individuals and individual combinations are not accepted in registration.
The Solicitation has no qualification requirements. If the bid winner does not possess Grade A License in the construction industry (construction engineering), it must entrust another design institution with relevant qualifications or experience in the design of public cultural projects to cooperate with it after being awarded the bid. Before the signing of subsequent agreements, such entrusted design institution must be accredited by the Sponsor.
Please fill, seal, scan the registration form (click “Read the original text” to download，access code：bzzx) and send it to zgwh@zrzyhgh.wuan.gov.cnto obtain the design assignment, in which you could also find the details of credit certificate document requirements.
Solicitation Process
The Solicitation is open to all design institutions at home and abroad, and is divided into two stages, “registration and prequalification” and “architectural design scheme review”
Registration and Prequalification
As soon as the announcement of Solicitation is issued, design institutions should submit their registration documents and concept proposal document. The Sponsor will provide design assignment and basic material package, and organize exchanges and Q&A sessions for the Project. The Sponsor will hold a prequalification meeting to review the documents submitted by design institutions, and select 6 units as shortlisted units (without ranking) and 2 units as candidates with ranking.
Architectural Design Scheme Review
The 6 shortlisted institutions shall submit their achievement documents that meet the requirements by the specific date, which will be reviewed at the review meeting organized by the Sponsor. 3 institutions will be selected with ranking. The Sponsor will decide 1 design institution for follow-up design after comprehensive evaluation and then an additional design agreement will be signed. The winning design institution will participate in field or remote reports/defense sessions, depending on the situation of COVID-19 prevention & control.
Awards and Design Compensation Fee
The total design fee is 6 million CNY (about US$943,000):
The 6 shortlisted institutions will get a design compensation of 500,000 CNY (about US$78,578) respectively. Three design institutions will be selected in the Architectural Design Scheme Review Stage. The selected design institution will receive 2 million CNY (about US$314,000), other two institutions will receive 600,000 CNY (about US$94,290) and 400,000 CNY (about US$62,860) respectively according to rank. (Note: All the above fees include taxes).
The bid winner will be designated for deepening subsequent design schemes and preparing preliminary design. The actual work scope and costs shall be subject to the contract.
Solicitation Schedule
The duration of the Solicitation is from March to July 2022, and the schedule is as follows:
Note: All the time mentioned above is Beijing time. Further notice will be issued in case of any change.
Solicitation Descriptions
The design fee in this Solicitation will be paid in RMB within the borders of China. If a foreign design institution cannot use its account to collect the RMB, it can authorize a domestic independent legal entity to collect the money on behalf.
The design institutions have the rights of authorship of concept design. With the permission of the Sponsor, concept design will be evaluated and displayed through mass media, professional magazines, books and periodicals or other forms. The Sponsor, Organizer and the project construction company have the rights to use or adjust concept design wholly or partly in the consultation of the Project, and the rights to print, publish and exhibit concept design through mass media, professional magazines, books and periodicals or other forms.
Concept design should be original and not have been published in any form. The design or any material used should not infringe any copyright, trademark right, patent right and other rights of any third party. If infringement occurs, all such disputes and legal liabilities will be borne by the design institution. If infringement causes losses, the compensation will be borne by the design institution too.
Design institutions shall abide by relevant confidentiality provisions, properly keep the drawings and data provided by the Sponsor, and protect their intellectual property rights. Without the permission of the Sponsor, the drawing materials or design works shall not be transferred to any third party or be used in other projects.
Design institutions participating in this Solicitation are regarded as acknowledging all the provisions in this Announcement. The bid winner shall be responsible for deepening scheme design and preparing preliminary design, which will be deemed as basis for obtaining the design compensation.
The laws and regulations applied to the solicitation activity and related documents are the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China.
The final rights to interpret or explain issues regarding this Solicitation process are held by the Sponsor.
Organization and Contact Information
Authority
Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism
Wuhan National Resources and Planning Bureau
Sponsor
Wuhan Library
Organizer
Wuhan Planning & Research and Exhibition Center
ZHONG GUI WUHAN Working Group
Co-organizer
Wuhan Urban Construction Group Co., LTD
Contact information
+86 15869107595 Mr. Tu
+86 15623540639 Ms. Dong
+86 13971182838 Ms. Fu
Consultation Time
9:00-12:00，15:00-17:30（Monday to Friday）
Address
Block A, Jianghua Complex Building, Jiang’an District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province
The announcement is published on AIMIR’s website now. If you want to know more following details regarding to this competition, please feel free to contact AIMIR. What’s more, you’re more than welcome to touch base with us if you need architectural visualization.
In looking at an architectural rendering, what is the first thing you pay attention to? The building, color, lighting, or anything else?
This is a consideration that comes to our mind when examining any 3D visuals. A good architectural rendering will excite its viewers’ emotions by dramatic effect and story-telling scene, because the 3D artists know how to model and color, bringing the best part of the structure.
However, this doesn’t mean a good architectural rendering should be flawless. As a matter of fact, “a good rendering” is subjective to people, and different architects and designers will probably have different opinions on it. No matter you are an architect, designer, or 3D specialists, here is what adds up to a good architectural rendering.
Also, please kindly check our previous blog about how to judge a 3D rendering: Eight Ways to Spot a Good Rendering: here. Okay, let’s start with the first of all four elements on a good architectural rendering.
A Solid 3D Model
This is the beginning of everything. 3D models can assist to visualize an actual structure that you can appreciate from 360̊ perspectives.
The two leading features of 3D models are reality and flexibility. In this way, you can have a thorough understanding of the vision. What’s more, the design can be changed anytime promptly with no or little costs.
If it is an exterior view, the surrounding context is vital for presenting the final scene. This includes the surrounding structures and landscaping. In case of not using site photo for composition, a precise 3D model for surroundings makes the job easier for everybody.
Proper Materials, Textures & Lighting
When looking at a good 3D architectural rendering, you may be amazed by the harmony at first. But the second time you see it you will see through the materials, textures to the lighting behind it.
Things that make an architectural 3D rendering terrible are unrealistic materials and textures, and wrong light and shadow. Material and texture quality is an essential part whether a powerful visual story has been told. What’s more, proper texturing can contrast with smoother areas, creating a nice harmony.
On the other hand, poor texturing will ruin the consistency of a visual, and too much or too less lighting can wash out the details or make everything less visible. When a 3D rendering is properly textured and lit, its viewers will feel like they are standing in front of the integrated scene.
A Story-telling Scene
The same rule of texturing and lighting that guides you in appreciating 3D visuals also works for stunning scene here. A good 3D rendering makes the viewers think about what it looks like working or living in a certain space.
No matter it is an interior for an apartment, or exterior view of a business tower, there always need an appealing scene to demonstrate a good story of the image. It can be persuasive with a vivid life-like shopping mall rather than the building itself.
For the same reason, real estate industry finds it easier selling houses than those which are left plain empty. This is because people are difficult to purely imagine what their lives will look like in an empty space.
Depth of Field
Depth of field can emphasize portions of the image. That is to say, an image with depth of field means this image has various “layers”.
You may have confronted with 3D renderings that the whole scene looks like stiff. The architecture may looks pretty good, but you just don’t like the image. This probably because the image is too “flat”, which may cause by lacking of depth of field.
Depth of field is a concept from photography, but is widely used in appreciating an image or a picture. Depth of field can set the mood of a photograph creating a soft luxurious look. It creates spatial levels. In this way, the important structure in an architectural rendering is well-stressed and displayed in from of its viewers.
Aside from these experiences that comes from AIMIR, it is well enough to apply your good taste which you may gain from everyday life. It takes effort to create a perfect architectural 3D rendering, not only from the 3D artists, also from the architects, designers, and project managers.
Want to discuss more about how to judge a good architectural rendering? You’re welcome to share your opinions below in the comments or connect our professional architectural visualization studio. To bring your exciting architectural projects to life, say hi to us now!
International Tender for Guangming Scientists Valley Urban Design and Major Projects Architectural Design is about to start. The official announcement of this international tender will be issued soon. The project is now open for pre-registration. Design teams from all over the world are welcome to pre-register.
Project Background
Shenzhen Guangming Science City, as the pilot zone for the Comprehensive National Science Center in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), will be built into the core functional area of the International Science and Technology Innovation Center in the GBA, attracting the world’s top scientific researchers and talents. It is to become a world leading base for basic science research and a large open source of original innovation. Guangming Science City plans to have “One Core Two Zones” as the Cluster of Facilities, in which the “One Core” is the Large-scale Scientific Facilities Cluster, covering 5-square-kilometer core area and 1-square-kilometer expansion area, to arrange world-class large-scale scientific facilities and to provide space for future expansions.
Guangming Science City Spatial Structure Diagram（Source: Guangming Science City Outline Plan, Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality and Guangming District Government, May 2020）
Guangming Scientists Valley is located in the core area of the Large-scale Scientific Facilities Cluster, covering an area of about 1.2 square kilometers. It consists of the Liantang Reservoir, Loucun Pond and the valley in between them. The natural conditions of Scientists Valley are superior.
Project Location
Current Condition of Scientists Valley
Project Positioning
As an important functional area of Guangming Science City, Guangming Scientists Valley is a “home for scientists” in Guangming District, built for scientific talents, and also the center of supporting services for the Large-scale Scientific Facilities Cluster. With scientists as the main user group, Scientists Valley will create an international scientific campus that provides a sense of belonging, and merges scientific elements with the natural landscape to build an integrated service supporting system for work, communication and living.
Construct a unique service core that satisfies the scientific function – It will provide high-quality public service facilities of international standard and featured services supporting scientific development, enabling different talents to learn about the frontier of science and obtain inspiration for innovation.
Build a creative, shared social space – Through integrated design, it will create a comprehensive and immersive shared social space, and build a large-scale scientific social network.
Set up an international sample area – Create an artistic and cultural atmosphere, build up a work, travel and recreation area with a sense of belonging, warmth and vitality.
Panorama of Scientists Suites and Science Multi-functional Center (Taken at an altitude of about 50 meters above the Scientists Suites) Link:https://api.skypixel.com/photo360s/dji-0513-46c385bf-a78c-4db4-ad49-9dbadfaf2bde?utm_source=copied&utm_medium=PCWeb&utm_campaign=share&sp=0
Current Condition of Loucun Pond
Current Condition of the Valley and the First Building (Multi-functional Building of Institute of Advanced Science Facilities, Shenzhen)
Current Site and Surrounding Condition of Scientists Suites and Science Multi-functional Center
Current Site and Surrounding Condition of Scientists Mansion
Current Condition of Liantang Reservoir and the Dam
Tender Scope
The tender scope includes: detailed urban design of Scientists Valley, the schematic design of Scientists Suites and Science Multi-functional Center, and Scientists Mansion.
1) Scientists Valley Detailed Urban Design
The winner shall be responsible for the integration of urban design, complete detailed urban design scheme and urban design guidelines. The urban design guidelines include guidance and control documents for all sub-plot design and development, which shall meet the technical requirements of implementation and can guide the subsequent architectural design and landscape design.
2) Scientists Suites and Science Multi-functional Center, and Scientists Mansion Schematic Design
The winner shall be responsible for the schematic design and scheme development stage of two major projects (Scientists Suites and Science Multi-functional Center, Scientists Mansion), including conceptual design optimization, architectural schematic design, architectural scheme development and detail design, landscape conceptual design, public area interior conceptual design, flood lighting conceptual design, etc. The design work should meet the Requirements of Construction Engineering Design Document Compilation Depth Regulations (2016 edition) and schematic approval. The architectural scheme development and detail design should meet the technical needs of further design work of LDI to ensure the design effect can be implemented.
The work content shall be subject to the tender document and design contract.
Design Scope
Urban Design Scope Diagram of Scientists Valley
Schematic Design Scope Diagram of Scientists Suites and Science Multi-functional Center
Schematic Design Scope Diagram of Scientists Mansion
Tender Process
The project adopts the method of “open call”, which includes 3 phases: pre-qualification, design competition and final evaluation. The honorarium is set for the bidders that are qualified but fail to win the bid. Pre-qualification Phase – The tenderee will organize Pre-qualification Review Committee according to relevant laws to evaluate the qualification, performance and composition of design teams as well as conceptual proposal, and determine 5 qualified bidders (without ranking) and 2 alternatives (with ranking). Design Competition Phase – The tenderee will set up the Scheme Review Committee according to relevant laws. The Scheme Review Committee will listen to the presentation of 5 qualified bidders, evaluate the submissions and determine 3 finalists (without ranking). Final Evaluation Phase – A Final Evaluation Committee will be established by the tenderee according to relevant laws to determine 1 winner from the 3 finalists (without ranking) recommended by the Scheme Review Committee.
Design Fee and Compensation
The design fee is tentatively set at RMB 17.225 million (tax inclusive) (about US$2.7 million), and the compensation will be set in addition.
Design fee and compensation (tax inclusive) are set as below:
Application Requirements
1. The bidder must be domestic or overseas entities with legal business registration. Individual or team of individuals will not be accepted.
2. There is no qualification requirement. Design team composed of professionals in architectural design, urban design, landscape design, ecology is encouraged.
3. Consortium bidder (hereinafter referred to as ‘the consortium’) is permitted, and the consortium should meet the following requirements:
One consortium shall include no more than 3 members (including the leading member).
The leading member should be the architectural design team.
Each member of the consortium shall not apply for pre-qualification alone or participate in another consortium, otherwise all relevant pre-qualification applications will be invalid.
Each member of the consortium shall sign a consortium agreement according to the format provided in the pre-qualification documents, and clarify the division of workload and equity share of the leading member and the others.
4. Two or more entities whose legal representatives are the same person or have direct holdings in each other, may not apply for the tender at the same time.
5. Each consortium member shall appoint one chief designer, who must directly participate in the whole process of this tender in person, including but not limited to site visit and Q&A session and final presentation (video conference can be considered in the case of epidemic impact).
Pre-registration
The official announcement of this international tender will be issued soon. We welcome all design teams to pre-register. If interested, please scan the QR code or visit the link below to fill in pre-registration information. Please fill in pre-registration information accurately so that the co-organizer can inform updates of the tender in time.
https://jinshuju.net/f/wSR2UJ
The pre-registration deadline is before 17:00, March 31, 2022 (UTC+8). Please refer to the official announcement for the pre-qualification application and subsequent schedule.
All information shall be subject to the official tender announcement released later.
Special Notes
The formal announcement will be published on Shenzhen Public Resources Trading Website: https://www.szggzy.com
According to the management requirements of the follow-up procedures, if the bidder hasn’t registered on Shenzhen Construction Engineering Transaction Service website yet, it is recommended that bidders (including the leading member and consortium member) complete company information registration online in advance.
Company information registration website: https://www.szjsjy.com.cn:8001/jy-toubiao/
Organizations
Adviser
Guangming Administration, Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality
Science City Development and Construction Bureau of Shenzhen Guangming District
Tenderee
Shenzhen Guangming Science City Development Investment Co., Ltd.
Co-Organizer
Shenzhen Position Spatial Culture Development Co., Ltd.
The announcement is published on AIMIR’s website now. If you want to know more following details regarding to this competition, please feel free to contact AIMIR. What’s more, you’re more than welcome to touch base with us if you need architectural visualization.
The Tender for Schematic Design and Foundation Pit Design of CGN New Research Center (Tender No.: CGN-202203170005) has been approved by the record-filing authority. The project funding is self-financed by the enterprise itself. The tenderee is China Nuclear Power Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. This project has already met the tender conditions and is now open for bidding.
Project Overview and Tender Scope
A. Project Scale
The CGN New Research Center, which consists of 2 plots, covers a total site area of 71752.4㎡. The Plot I, land for scientific research, covers a site area of 33861.6㎡, and the Plot II, land for new industry, covers a site area of 37890.8㎡. The proposed total gross floor area of the project is 247185㎡ (in which the FAR-calculated area is 215455㎡). The functions include experimental factories and their supporting facilities, research offices and living facilities, etc
B. Tender Content and Scope
The tender project consists of 1 tender section. The tender content is the schematic design and the foundation pit design of CGN New Research Center covering a site area of 71752.4㎡, which includes:
Based on the feasibility study report materials, complete the site planning, site analysis, schematic design of each building, curtain wall schematic design, parking and traffic schematic design, overall landscape planning and design, schematic interior design of main public space and investment estimation compilation, etc.
Cooperate with the design development and the construction document design to realize the project effect. Provide design consultation to the owner and government authorities. Prepare and submit the evaluation materials required for the project approval and construction, etc.
Foundation pit design (including foundation pit support, design and evaluation of earthwork and drainage), foundation pit engineering budget preparation, etc.
The foundation pit construction document design is allowed to be sub-contracted.
C. Planned Construction Schedule
The winner shall submit the scheme design in accordance with the depth requirements of relevant regulations on the basis of the winning scheme before July 30, 2022.
The winner shall submit the foundation pit construction documents that meet the requirements of the approval before July 30, 2022.
The winner shall complete the evaluation of the foundation pit construction documents before August 30, 2022.
The design schedule shall meet the requirements of the project construction schedule and the construction needs, including the requirements of the tenderee to carry out the construction tender for foundation pit supporting and foundation treatment.
The final schedule is subject to the contract.
D. Design Fee and Honorarium
The bidding control price of this project is RMB 16 million (tax inclusive), the official tender documents shall prevail.
The total amount of honorarium is RMB 5.4 million (tax inclusive).
The winner will be awarded a design contract;
The 2 unsuccessful finalists will be paid RMB 1.2 million (tax inclusive) and RMB 1.0 million (tax inclusive) as honorarium, according to ranking;
Each of the 4 shortlisted teams who did not make it to the final evaluation stage will be paid with RMB 0.8 million (tax inclusive) as honorarium.
No honorarium will be paid to applicants who fail to pass the pre-qualification stage.
Qualification Requirement for the Applicant
Basic Qualification:The bidding applicant (hereinafter referred to as the applicant) must be domestic or overseas entities with legal business registration. Individual or team of individuals will not be accepted.
Qualification Requirement:The applicant must own a Class-A engineering design integrated qualification, or a Class-A architectural industry engineering design qualification, or a Class-A architectural industry (architectural engineering) qualification issued by the construction-administrative authorities of the People’s Republic of China, or the same corresponding qualification recognized by the registration places of overseas countries (regions). The foundation pit construction document design is allowed to be sub-contracted. The subcontracting entity must be a domestic design company and have the corresponding foundation pit engineering design qualification (Class-A engineering investigation integrated qualification or Class-A geotechnical engineering special qualification).
Financial Requirement: Refer to the pre-qualification documents.
Similar Project Experience Requirement:Refer to the pre-qualification documents.
Credit Requirement:Refer to the pre-qualification documents.
Design Team Requirement: Project Leader Qualification Requirement: The project leader should own a Grade-One registered architect qualification of the People’s Republic of China or the corresponding qualification recognized by the registration places of overseas countries (regions). For a consortium, the project leader must be the staff from the leading member. Provide the labor contract of the project leader and the social insurance payment certification materials from the last one year. For the major members of the design team, valid labor contracts must be provided.
Other Requirement:
A. A consortium applicant (hereinafter referred to as the consortium) is permitted. The leading member of the consortium shall meet the qualification requirement in article 2, and the consortium should meet the following requirements:
One consortium shall include no more than 2 members (including the leading member).
Each member of the consortium shall not apply for pre-qualification alone or participate in another consortium, otherwise all relevant pre-qualification applications will be invalid.
Each member of the consortium shall sign a consortium agreement according to the format provided in the pre-qualification documents, and clarify the division of workload and equity share of the leading member and the other. Registration Instruction for the consortium: Two common accounts may form a consortium. The leading member should sign in the ECP by the name of the consortium to submit an application for a consortium account. The consortium account will be valid once approved by the ECP-Supplier Service Hall.
B. Two or more entities whose legal representatives are the same person or have direct holdings in each other, may not apply for the tender at the same time.
Acquisition of the Pre-qualification Document
Acquisition Time:Beginning: March 18, 2022, 14:00; Deadline: March 29, 2022, 17:00.
Acquisition Method: The applicant should register on the CGN E-Commerce Platform (https://ecp.cgnpc.com.cn) within the acquisition time. Fill in the information of the authorized bidding contact person when registering. Overseas applicants need to contact the tender contact person for account registration. Provide relevant registration information according to the attachment of the tender announcement and send it to the e-mail of the contact person before 17:00 (UTC+8) on March 28, 2022.
Applicant who has already signed up for membership of CGN E-Commerce Platform can apply for bidding directly. Otherwise, the applicant needs to sign up for membership of the platform before registration. Please refer to the CGN E-Commerce Platform for detailed instructions for signing up for membership. If the business license information of the applicant has changed compared with those when signing up, please log in to the CGN E-Commerce Platform to update the membership registration information in time.
The applicant shall bear the responsibility if the applicant fails to update the registration information in time and affects the bidding of the applicant.
After successful application online, applicants can download the electronic bidding documents online by themselves, and there is no need to upload the application documents for this project.
Applicants should complete bidding application, download pre-qualification documents and relevant work within the pre-qualification document acquisition time, and the system will automatically shut down after the deadline. Applicants who fail to apply for bidding and download the pre-qualification documents according to the above requirements are not allowed to bid, and the tenderee has the right to reject their pre-qualification application documents, and those already received shall be treated as invalid documents.
Pre-qualification Application Document Submission
Submission Deadline: April 11, 2022, 9:00 am (UTC+8)
Submission Methods: This project adopts the method of offline bidding, and the pre-qualification application documents must be submitted to the submission site which is the Supplier Service Hall, 11F, North Building, CGN Tower, 2002 Shennan Boulevard, Shenzhen on-site or by EMS of China Post before the deadline. Refer to the pre-qualification documents for details of sealing methods and submission requirements of the bidding documents. The tenderee will not accept the bidding documents that are overdue or not delivered to the designated place.
Submission Address: Supplier Service Hall, 11F, North Building, CGN Tower, 2002 Shennan Boulevard, Shenzhen.
Opening of the Pre-qualification Document
Opening Time: The same as the submission deadline
Opening Method: Open on an on-site meeting
Evaluation Method: Limited shortlist (no more than 7)
Other Contents of the Announcement
A. Qualification Review Method:This project adopts the method of pre-qualification.
B. Media for Announcement Release: This tender announcement will be released on “CGN E-Commerce Platform” (https://ecp.cgnpc.com.cn) and “China Tendering and Bidding Public Service Platform” (http://www.cebpubservice.com) at the same time.
C. Other Important Note:
This project does not accept on-site purchase of pre-qualification documents.
For any questions, please contact the project leader of the agency.
Supervision Department
The supervision department of this project is CGN Bidding Center.
Contact
Tenderee: China Nuclear Power Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Co-Organizer: Shenzhen Position Spatial Culture Development Co., Ltd.
The announcement is published on AIMIR’s website now. If you want to know more following details regarding to this competition, please feel free to contact AIMIR. What’s more, you’re more than welcome to touch base with us if you need architectural visualization.
Jonathan and Sal, from C* Architects, one of AIMIR’s long-term partners, talked about “AER In The District” project in 2020. This was a project with both exterior and interior views. They had finished the model of the building in Revit, but could only provide hand sketches for interiors.
This project went through 2020 to 2021, with modification of designs to meet the city’s requirement. AIMIR’s photorealistic 3D renderings unveil the final plan for Tampa’s upcoming tower. Please join us in discovering the making of “AER In The District”.
AER In The District, Tampa, Florida
This 31-story mixed-use tower is planned for Tampa’s northwest section of the Downtown area. Towering over Downtown Tampa and the Hillsborough River, the basic plan for AER is:
334 residential units;
11,629 square feet of retail spaces on the ground floor;
514 parking lots.
AER site diagram
The architectural design of AER In The District is postmodern. Clad in smooth stucco, the façade of the tower is joined by vertical rows of stacked balconies and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. And the parapet wall at the top of the tower makes it stand out among surrounding buildings.
West elevation. There is a bridge on the 10th floor linking both structures.
Because C* Architects team had finished the model for exterior views however the sketches for interiors were not ready, we’d like to start with the exterior views.
Exterior Views
We decided to complete the exterior views of the building first, while the design team was working on finishing the interior. The first thing we did was to fine-tune the model.
We used 3ds Max for this project. However, what we’ve received was a Revit model. As a result, our 3D modeling specialist converted the Revit model to a 3ds Max compatible one. After this, the model was officially ready to go!
The original Revit model.
Sal didn’t have a confirmed decision about the views, so we’ve suggested some. During this stage, AIMIR’s experienced 3D specialists used the fine-tuned model to select camera angles.
Sal and his team took a while and decided to go with five of them.
Proposed views.
Five confirmed views.
These views strictly followed a standard 3D rendering production process: 3D modeling – material and texture – lighting – post-production.
Some comments from Sal.
As our precious partner, we know C* Architects’ tastes and preferences. For this reason, we’ve directly completed the final images after the view confirmation. Fortunately, Sal was happy with the result. After a couple of tiny modifications, the final images were set.
Please enjoy the moment when 3D model turns into 3D rendering:
Interior
The four interior views were based on sketches done by its designers. We are always surprised by their talent and techniques. Because this is an original space, the whole space plus the inner fittings and furniture needed to model from scratch. Below are four interior views Sal shared with us:
The first step was to build the 3D model based on the sketches. At this point, our 3D artists created the interior spaces first. This was to show the geometry of the space, such as ceiling, floor, and structure. As it was for general checking, the white model didn’t have much details.
And then added the custom-made furniture, décor and fittings in:
At this step, Sal had redesigned a few points based on our 3D model drafts. Architectural visualization is always a great tool to help you design. Below is one view with redesign and some comments from Sal.
Applying materials and textures came to the next. During this step, the 3D specialists would attach materials and textures to corresponding objects. Thus, these objects would look more photorealistic. Our 3D artists applied parts of the textures for the images:
With the view and materials were set, our 3D specialists proceeded with setting the lighting in. At the same time, scene outside the building was added to create a vivid scene.
This is material and furniture plan for one of the views:
Finally, we added some people and other small stuff in the images. And rendered them in 72 dpi with over 4000 resolution. Please enjoy the magical moment when sketches turned into 3D renderings!
Design Updates
In September 2021, Sal brought us the updated model for AER Tampa. They needed to update two images this time. This time, they wanted to adjust the pool on the top of the lower building.
Reference from Sal about the update.
Updated plan for the pool deck.
In most of the cases, we do not charge for minor adjustments right after the final delivery. However, the situation depends on time, workload, and other factors. Please refer to our blog about how to calculate modification fees here: Four Typical Scenarios Concerning Extra Charge during the Rendering Process.
Sal decided to use the same mood as previous images. It meant the updated views would share the same lighting and people, except different design.
Comparison of previous and updated plan for the pool deck.
We finished the final images as soon as possible to meet the reporting date. These are the updated two views compared with previous ones:
Stories After
With the help of our 3D renderings, the presentation went well and the City of Tampa is processing this project. The site is already cleared and ready for ground breaking. Construction could potentially commence this year if building permits are approved relatively soon.
We are always honored and enjoy working with C* Architects. Now, we are dreaming to visit the tower one day when it’s built. It is a nice experience seeing a building that we created in 3D visuals. Of course, we cannot wait to create more visual works for Sal and Jonathan and C* Architects team!
If you like this project, or need to bring your sketches to life, AIMIR is here to provide the 100% photorealistic works for your exterior and interior projects. Why not say hi now, we’ll create 3D visuals that will take the viewers’ breath away!
