National Technology Day

January 6, 2021

Use of Technology is essential to the business of developing architecture and exploring designs in a virtual world. Wincer Kievenaar use Vectorworks, an application that provides extensive 2D drafting, 3D modelling, BIM and rendering capabilities to produce the plans and elevations required to explain a project to clients, the planning authority. Technical design and elaboration of the drawings provides contractors with the essential information in order to construct the buildings.

Vectorworks uses OpenGL (Open Graphics-Library), a cross platform programming interface for rendering vector graphics using the graphics card. Higher quality images are produced using Renderworks which generates graphics using the CPU.

Recently, Wincer Kievenaar have begun using Twinmotion software, which allows the import of the 3D model into its dynamic environment. Twinmotion offers multiple realistic effects: HDR, Dynamic ambient occlusion, sunbeam, reflections, fog effects, depth of field and the animation of water, wind, vehicles and crowds. It utilises Unreal Engine, a game engine developed by Epic Games which has been notably used in the production of the game Fortnite, as well in film making such as in the production of TV series The Mandalorian and Westworld. We have used it to produce video flythroughs of our projects which significantly assists understanding of the spatial arrangement and materiality of complex designs.

Here is a video flythrough of a barn conversion at Lafham Hall Estate produced using these technologies:

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About the author

Craig Western

Director / Architect

Craig Western is a Director and Architect with Wincer Kievenaar. Graduating from the University of Sheffield he later joined the Practice in 2012 and has 18 years experience.

Craig has worked across all RIBA Work Stages under both traditional and Design & Build procurement routes. His career has involved working across many sectors and of mixed scale during his time at various architectural practices.

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