Sometimes you just gotta jump into the future with both feet, hoping you won’t land in quicksand. Creating a three-dimensional model of a landscape lets you create consistent elevations, sections and details – with perspective drawings as a bonus.
More and more designers and engineers are moving to 3D, so it’s possible that we can simply export the 3D data for engineering. The ability to quickly create multiple sections and elevations boosts the communication value of the drawings, too.
We’ve kept some things in 2D, especially planting. It’s still difficult to find (or create) good 3D plant symbols, so we leave the actual planting plan in 2D. It’s still linked to a building information system, so the computer can rapidly alphabetize plants lists and count all the plants used in the design.
Many manufactured items can be downloaded as 3D files, greatly simplifying planning. Alas, we’re not there yet, so the radiant heaters and outdoor fan had to be modeled in house, along with the mounting hardware for the sliding doors.
The wall in the foreground is the same wall in the detail. Behind, the patio cover has rolling/sliding screens that can lock into place to limit access to the pool or keep out the wind.This view shows a planter and steps to the raised spa, complete with light fixtures and glasstile. The planting is simplified to speed computer rendering times – in any case the main idea is to give an idea of the completed project.This shows how the elements fit together: the big barrel-like object is a sauna. One wall is an outdoor shower; the other a screen for an air conditioning unit with towel hooks. That leaves the spa, planter, pool and screen wall to fill out the design.All construction details are generated directly from the 3D model, so one change to the model updates all the details – and perspectives – that show it. Details can be reused on different plans to communicate different information, too. This shows the positioning of the lighting, but another version shows planter and step heights.This option used poured in place concrete seat walls with a simple chamfer at the top.This alternate added cast in place concrete caps to the wall. Once the caps were modeled, the detail needed only minor changes to the text for explanation.
Published by mike
Mike is a licensed landscape architect. He's also an artist, photographer and occasional chef. Luciole Design specializes in sustainable, contemporary, modern landscape design - and traditional landscape styles that fit into California's Mediterranean climate. Sacramento, California.
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