From (Flat) Drawings to the (Ultra) Real - A Taxonomy of Architectural Visualizations

Oct 28, 2026

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Architectural visualizations are central for communicating architectural ideas, particularly through digital images. This paper investigates types of architectural representations and visualizations in relation to the architectural/designerly workflow, showing that stylistic features tend to cluster into categories from (flat) drawings to (ultra) real renderings. The study examines possible links between visualization style and the design tools/software used, and evaluates the digital workflow through a pilot 3D scene.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Digital representation and emerging stylistic categories

Research methodology

Selection of online sources for collecting and analyzing images

From (Flat) Drawings to the (Ultra) Real: A Taxonomy of Architectural Visualizations Ioanna Symeonidou1 , Panagiotis Papapanagiotou1 1 Department of Architecture, University of Thessaly, Greece [symeonidou@uth.gr](symeonidou@uth.gr) [panagpapapanag@gmail.com](panagpapapanag@gmail.com) Abstract. Architectural visualizations play an important role in transmitting architectural ideas. The research presented in this paper focuses on digital images and investigates the different types of architectural representations and visualizations in relation to the architectural/designerly workflow. The study of a series architectural images reveals that based on the stylistic characteristics they tend to coalesce into categories, ranging from (flat) drawings to (ultra) real architectural visualizations. The research aims to identify different types of architectural visualizations, question whether there are links between the style and the design tools and software used and decipher the digital workflow employed for their creation. Taking into consideration the findings, a pilot 3D scene is selected as a case study to test the hypothesis of replicating different visualization styles, using a corresponding workflow and methodology, in order to compare the results and reach conclusions about the features, characteristics and workflow. Keywords: architectural visualizations, renderings, digital workflows, visualization styles, photorealistic representations 1 Introduction Digital representation methods have had a significant impact in the advancement of architectural visualizations. Nowadays, digital representations of architectural space form a substantial part of architectural research. Architectural representation evolves with the evolution of technology, digitalization and intermediality, considering the overlapping of different disciplines in the digital media (Carbonell Segarra & Díaz García, 2019) . The continuous development of technology has had an obvious impact in the way architectural representations are placing themselves within the industry, it is often believed that architectural representation has emerged as a discipline on its own. Light, color and perspective are the key elements that become the supports of this new craft of architectural visualizations (Alonso Rodríguez et al. , 2019) . Through the systematic study of architectural images we can observe that architectural visualizations can be grouped into distinct categories based on their characteristics. Hence, a number of styles emerge, ranging from (flat) two-dimensional drawings to the (ultra) real three-dimensional architectural visualizations. The study presented in this paper aims to identify different types of architectural visualizations , aiming to present a taxonomy and decipher the digital workflow employed for their creation. Off course, there are several different ways to classify and categorize architectural visualizations. This study presents one attempt to do so, based on the available literature but also on forums for digital designers, videos and software. The aim of this research is to study, analyze and classify the emerging typologies of digital architectural images and provide the methodology to reconstruct them with the use of digital media. 2 Research methodology The initial hypothesis that there are different styles of architectural visualizations and that they agglomerate to form distinct taxonomies, is to be verified through the analysis of hundreds of images found on the internet. The aim is to identify their relationship to the general production methodology as well as the digital workflows employed. It is evident that style and technology affect each other reciprocally. Mario Carpo remarks that “all tools feed back onto the actions of their users, and digital tools are no exception […] manufactured objects can easily reveal their software bloodline to educated observers”(Carpo, 2011) . At the same time, contemporary aesthe

FAQs

What is the main focus of the paper on architectural visualizations?

The paper focuses on digital images and compares different types of architectural representations and visualizations in relation to the architectural/designerly workflow.

How does the paper categorize architectural visualizations?

By analyzing a series of architectural images, it identifies categories based on stylistic characteristics, spanning from (flat) drawings to (ultra) real architectural visualizations.

What role do tools and software play in the proposed workflow?

The research questions whether visualization style is linked to the design tools and software used, and tests this through a pilot 3D scene using a corresponding workflow and methodology.

Oct 28, 2026

Upload by McQueen