{"id":40207,"date":"2020-03-17T12:22:24","date_gmt":"2020-03-17T16:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/?p=40207"},"modified":"2022-08-22T18:14:40","modified_gmt":"2022-08-22T22:14:40","slug":"the-benefits-of-3d-printing-architectural-concept-models","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/the-benefits-of-3d-printing-architectural-concept-models","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of 3D Printing Architectural Concept Models"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A concept model is crucial for being able to visualize an architectural structure as accurately as possible. Having a model makes it possible for every member of the team to be on the same page as well as allowing communication with clients in greater detail. Concept models have traditionally been made by hand by cutting out the shapes in paper, cardboard, foam-core or timber and it can take anywhere from days to weeks to complete a large context model. Many firms\u2019 model shops have now been switching over to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/business\/additive-manufacturing\">3D printing<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/upload-3d-print-files-models\">create their models<\/a> instead for a number of different reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Easing Communication Between Designers and Clients<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to communicating complex design ideas, the clients need to be able to fully visualize what they are signing on for. If a design is overly theoretical or technical that the client cannot fully understand it this could lead to problems later on. 3D printing produces cleaner and more contemporary looking tangible models with as much detail as possible and allows clients to make informed decisions and give better feedback. It allows the client to more directly visualize information like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/materials\">materials<\/a>, colors and design elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Efficiently Testing, Editing and Refining Designs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many times a model\nneeds to be reiterated a number of times to allow for alterations. Where the\ntypical process for producing a model takes time and can be quite expensive, 3D\nprinting the model makes it much easier to change the 3D design and then\nrapidly create a new prototype within a couple of hours. This makes testing and\nrefining designs a much quicker process. Saving the designs also cuts time out\nfor future projects, if any of the information for previous designs becomes\nuseful again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1120\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/030120_Architecture_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40208\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Improving Quality in Details and Materials<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>3D printing also\nallows for an extremely high level of intricacy and details that are much more\ndifficult to produce by hand. Designers can use 3D printing to demonstrate\nconnections between structural elements (interlocking, overlapping, for\nexample) in multiple configurations to develop site plans in the most accurate\nway possible. It is also easier to create more complex structural details like\ndomes and arches. 3D printers can use different materials for different aspects\nof the models to further illustrate their concept. Some popular choices include\nNylon Plastic, transparent resin or metal. 3D printed models are much more\ndurable than paper or cardboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Extending 3D Printing to Prototypes and Specific Design\nElements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The usability of 3D\nprinting extends past full concept model making as well. Using a 3D printer, it\nis possible to print concept models of specific parts of the buildings being\ndesigned, like facades for different walls and other textures to further\nillustrate design ideas. Parts can be 3D printed in full, but casts can also be\nprinted to create the prototype of a ceramic tile, for example, much easier and\nquicker. Prototypes of the structure can then come to life long before the\nbuild is complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to designing anything, especially such large scale entities like buildings or landscapes, 3D printing helps to streamline the process by visually communicating these ideas. Many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/industry\/architecture\">architecture<\/a> firms have begun acquiring their own desktop 3D printers to be able to produce models and prototypes quickly and at low cost. As 3D printing is still a relatively new technology there can be a learning curve in the transition to using it which makes outsourcing to specialized 3D printing companies like Shapeways a constructive alternative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Print with Shapeways<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Shapeways offers consultations with 3D engineers to ensure efficiency and printability of the design in question at the highest quality, making the printing process as smooth as possible. Even as the use of desktop printers becomes easier it can be beneficial to outsource to printers like Shapeways who can deliver a specialized level of precision, print with a wider range of materials and guarantee efficiency in order to create top quality, high detail models for client showcases or trade shows. Creating models with as much detail and accuracy as possible is of the utmost importance not only for showing manufacturers but also for engaging clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Need help with your architectural projects? <a href=\"https:\/\/business.shapeways.com\/industry\/architecture\">Get in touch<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A concept model is crucial for being able to visualize an architectural structure as accurately as possible. Having a model&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":151,"featured_media":40209,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[510,489],"tags":[557,1565,1684],"class_list":["post-40207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-3d-printing-industry","category-products-and-design","tag-3d-modeling","tag-architectural-models","tag-architecture"],"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/030220_Architecture_5.jpg","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.9 (Yoast SEO v23.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Benefits of 3D Printing Architectural Concept Models - Shapeways Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A concept model is crucial for being able to visualize an architectural structure as accurately as possible. Having a model makes it possible for every\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/the-benefits-of-3d-printing-architectural-concept-models\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Madeline Manning\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/the-benefits-of-3d-printing-architectural-concept-models#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/the-benefits-of-3d-printing-architectural-concept-models\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Madeline Manning\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7e71a3edfb8e438ef190e00327ec2507\"},\"headline\":\"The Benefits of 3D Printing Architectural Concept Models\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-03-17T16:22:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-08-22T22:14:40+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/the-benefits-of-3d-printing-architectural-concept-models\"},\"wordCount\":702,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/the-benefits-of-3d-printing-architectural-concept-models#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/030220_Architecture_5.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"3d modeling\",\"architectural models\",\"architecture\"],\"articleSection\":[\"3D Printing Industry\",\"Products and Design\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/the-benefits-of-3d-printing-architectural-concept-models#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/the-benefits-of-3d-printing-architectural-concept-models\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/the-benefits-of-3d-printing-architectural-concept-models\",\"name\":\"The Benefits of 3D Printing Architectural Concept Models - Shapeways Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/the-benefits-of-3d-printing-architectural-concept-models#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/the-benefits-of-3d-printing-architectural-concept-models#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/030220_Architecture_5.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-03-17T16:22:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-08-22T22:14:40+00:00\",\"description\":\"A concept model is crucial for being able to visualize an architectural structure as accurately as possible. 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