THE VALUE OF VISUALIZATION
Take the following description for a moment, and try to visualize what is being described.
"2,595 square foot primary structure. 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Core living space with a second floor primary suite. Flat roofs, large windows. Secondary structure with 2 car garage, first floor shop, second floor apartment."
For those familiar with architecture and homes that might mean something... but if asked to describe such a space each individual would produce a vastly different idea of what was being described.
If you happen to be familiar with architecture, you might be able to envision something of a similar scale or understand the general function of the rooms left unsaid. However, with minimal information the resulting imagery could vary drastically from person to person.
Now take in the image below... is it the same as what you had envisioned with the prompt above?
Even as a simple 2D elevation, this image changes the depiction significantly, giving clues to the form of the structure. Even so, much remains unknown.
What is the depth of this building? What about its materials? If you were told that it was made of concrete and wood could you visualize it as such?
Now finally, take a look at the final image.
It remains a far cry from our initial image. Depth is shown, as is lighting, materiality, vegetation, and countless other things. A clearer image of what is being described is being showcased.
For many people, proper architectural visualization can be like constructing a puzzle without a reference. We can see the pieces and hear the facts, but still struggle to see the full picture.
WHAT REMAINS UNSEEN
The truth is... many people struggle with visualizing
UNDERSTANDING SPACE
May struggle to visualize based on static information such as, "10 feet wide" or "Facing North"
SEEING IN 3D
Cannot envision a 3D object from a 2D drawing
Cannot envision what lies beyond the "shown image" i.e. what the relation between elevations may be like
NEED TO COMPARE OPTIONS
Rely on an either/or approach to decision making
ENVISIONING COLOR AND MATERIALS
Cannot envision how spaces may be effected by different lighting situations
Unable to look at a material and envision it in a space
In the world of construction and architecture, understanding these things are critical in finding buyers for your product. Potential buyers might overlook a home simply because they cannot visualize what is being shown, even if the space could be exactly what they were looking for.
Without the ability to showcase the product properly, or by relying on mental visualization of described features, materials or forms, designers and builders risk creating unrealistic expecations. This could result in a marginalized market of buyers and costly changes, resulting is loss of time, money and customer satisfaction.
