Why use artificial intelligence for building rendering?

The rise of artificial intelligence rendering technology in the field of architecture is by no means accidental. It has truly addressed many pain points in the traditional Design process. Just think about it. In the past, it was so troublesome for designers to make an effect drawing: they had to adjust the lighting angles frame by frame, repeatedly adjust the reflective effect of the materials, and even manually adjust the parameters of the wall paint texture. It would take at least three to five days and at most one or two weeks to complete a complete set of renderings. If the client suddenly said, "I want to see the effect at dusk," it would almost have to start all over again. And AI rendering is like installing an accelerator in the design process - the system can "learn" the light and shadow patterns of tens of thousands of architectural pictures. Designers only need to input keywords such as "modern minimalist style" and "Mediterranean climate lighting", and AI can generate several different light and shadow effect schemes within a few hours. Even the reflection of water marks on the glass curtain wall during heavy rain can be simulated vividly. This efficiency improvement is simply a lifeline for projects with tight schedules.

What's more interesting is that AI rendering is no longer merely a tool for passively executing instructions; instead, it can "inspire" the creativity of designers. For instance, if a landscape designer wants to create a new Chinese-style courtyard, in the traditional way, they have to search for inspiration by themselves through materials. However, an AI system can automatically match the paving style of bluestone slabs, the light and shadow effect of swaying bamboo, and even recommend the layout of artificial mountains that conform to the concept of feng shui based on keywords such as "white walls and black tiles" and "meandering water". There was once a team designing an urban complex. AI analyzed the texture of the red brick buildings in the surrounding old urban area and automatically generated an exterior facade plan that integrated traditional elements. Even the designer did not expect such a cross-border combination. This ability of "intelligent association" makes rendering no longer a "beauty camera" in the later stage of design, but a creative partner throughout the concept stage. It can even help non-professionals turn vague ideas into intuitive visual solutions - developers show customers AI-generated VR panoramic images of model rooms. Customers can "walk" into a house that has not yet started construction with glasses on. Even the street scene outside the balcony can be simulated. This is much more intuitive than drawing up blueprints or making a model.

From a cost perspective, the advantages of AI rendering are also obvious. In the past, when outsourcing companies were hired to make renderings, a complex interior drawing would cost several thousand yuan, and each revision of the plan would incur additional charges. Nowadays, designers themselves use AI systems. Modifying the plan is just a matter of a few mouse clicks, and a new version can be produced in just a few minutes. There was once a real estate project. In the early stage, AI was used to generate over twenty versions of floor plans with different decoration styles. The client could pick the plan they liked on the spot, saving hundreds of thousands of yuan in the later stage of demolition and modification. Moreover, AI rendering can be directly integrated with Building Information Modeling (BIM), extracting size and material data from design drawings. Even the direction of pipelines can be reflected in the renderings. Construction teams can work by referring to the drawings, avoiding the problem of disconnection between design and construction in traditional processes. The most remarkable aspect is its "degree of realism" - the marble countertop simulated by advanced AI algorithms is exactly the same as the real object even in the slightest cracks and reflection angles. The shadow changes of leaves in the garden landscape in the wind can all be rendered according to real physical laws. This sense of realism can not only be used to deceive customers but also help engineers conduct lighting analysis. For instance, in hospital design, AI can simulate the trajectories of sunlight in different seasons to ensure that wards receive sufficient lighting every day. This truly combines "good looks" and "practicality".
Nowadays, more and more firms have found that the issue of AI rendering is not whether to use it or not, but how to integrate it into the entire design process. From small studios quickly drafting scheme sketches to large multinational design institutes conducting complex reviews, AI is transforming the working mode. I remember there was an old architect who initially scoff at this technology. It wasn't until a project bidding that the opponent used AI-generated dynamic renderings to show the light and shadow changes of the building in the four seasons, and even simulated the flow of people in the surrounding blocks so vividly that the client was stunned on the spot. Since then, he has also begun to study how to use AI to assist in design and expressed his feelings, saying, "This is not about taking designers' jobs, but about liberating our energy from repetitive work to think about more creative things." Indeed, when AI can efficiently complete the "physical labor" of rendering, designers will be able to free up more time to think about the emotional expression of space and the relationship between architecture and the city. This might be the profound transformation that AI brings to the industry - not to have machines replace humans, but to have people focus more on the value of "humans".
LIGHTSis a high quality 3d rendering and Animation provider.