Landscape Design in 3D

One of the most challenging aspects of design communication is making the invisible visible.

A landscape design on paper is something that does not yet exist but is based on existing data like actual elevations, square footage measurements, and the location of existing structures like a home, garage, or a tree.

Even if you are intimately familiar with your property, it is not always easy to understand how a design on paper will actually translate into your new landscape.

Landscape designers typically have created drawings in “plan view” which is a view from above (think bird's eye view before Google maps) but the problem has always been that not everyone is used to thinking about spaces this way.

The remedy has been to create conceptual drawings by hand or more recently with the aid of photo rendering and manipulation software like Photoshop. And while the newer methods introduced a measure of photo-realism, it basically delivered a view and did not fully overcome the limitations of 2 dimensions.

Of course, a seasoned design professional can use conversation and explanation to convey the intended concepts. But if we had a nickel for every perplexed or unsure look we’ve seen over the years when someone looks at a plan… let's just say we could buy multiple coffees for the whole crew.

In recent years the use of 3D presentation software has been on the rise. The problem has generally been that the time it takes to render a plan in 3D has been cost prohibitive for landscape budgets. This is slowly beginning to change.

The communication problems described above can slow down a decision-making process if you are not fully sure what you are investing in. 

It helps to travel virtually through space

The main difference between a 2D drawing and a 3D rendering is the ability to travel through conceptual space. There is movement involved and it creates a much better understanding of what the completed space will look like and feel like. Out 3D renderings can also display a palpable difference between sun and shade. In fact, we had one client viewing a 3D presentation excitedly proclaim "I'll be able to do yoga right there int he shade!". That is the joyful comprehension of the end result benefit of a great design plan made visible. 🙂

Presenting a plan in a way where you can clearly grasp the feel of the design as well as the special layout is a higher form of customer service.

Take a virtual tour of a project Stone Blossom is building this season.

One of the primary benefits we hear from the clients we’ve built landscapes for is that they now have a reason to leave the technology behind and spend more time outdoors. We like hearing that. And we recognize it as a much-needed aspect of life in the 21st century.

It strikes us as a bit of welcomed irony that we are using the advantages of technology to create a clear vision that helps our clients move forward with construction so they can eventually leave the technology behind.

Not every budget can allow for a 3D design presentation… Yet. But we are moving in that direction as technology improves.

Stone Blossom is leading the way in landscape design practices that deliver our clients years of outdoor enjoyment.