What types of building information are best portrayed in 3D views?
3D views are most beneficial when showing plans to clients for a residential building or state or local officials when sharing plans for a commercial building, skyscraper, or apartment in a city. This is important because they function with the larger ecosystem and must blend well with the surrounding environment. Showing 3D views to clients can also spark extra interest since they are better able to visualize the space and think of interior design opportunities. 2D views can be helpful for engineers since they are able to see only the structural components and a simplified slice of the space. It is more effective for them to work with only the information that is most applicable.
Should your design ideas always be conveyed through photorealistic renders?
I do not think design ideas should also be conveyed through rendering. At times, it is best to allow a client to imagine the space for themselves, especially when presenting a building model. When an architect adds too much detail to make the home their own, they may present a use of space that is not admired by the client and may repel them. However, rendering a minimalistic space to show the entrance of light and views of the neighborhood is great for showing how the building interacts with its environment, especially when a client is unable to visit the site in person.
Name some applications where viewing the building and model information in virtual reality or augmented reality would be most beneficial?
Virtual reality can be used for clients to get an even better sense of a built space. When a real estate developer wants to give a virtual tour, they can send a VR prerecorded tour to save time and money for travel, and their own time of giving many tours. In design, an architect can work with interior designers to test out the space before it is built to save time and money later on in the project if they want to make larger changes. To see one room at a time, they can use cave technology in their studio. For renovations, construction workers can virtually visualize what new elements of the building could look like and present the best fit to clients.