AI Rendering
The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to generate, enhance, or transform architectural visualizations.
Architecture Glossary
A comprehensive guide to architectural terms, rendering definitions, and visualization concepts. Whether you're an architect, designer, student, or enthusiast, this glossary covers essential vocabulary from traditional architectural drawings to modern AI-powered visualization techniques.
Explore 29 terms covering architectural drawings, design phases, BIM workflows, and cutting-edge AI rendering technology.
A4 terms
Ambient Occlusion
A shading technique that darkens creases, corners, and areas where surfaces meet to enhance depth perception and visual realism.
Architectural Animation
Animated sequences that showcase architectural designs through movement, revealing spatial qualities and design narratives over time.
Axonometric Drawing
A three-dimensional representation where parallel lines remain parallel, showing multiple faces of a building without perspective distortion.
C3 terms
Clay Render
A visualization technique using uniform matte gray material to emphasize form, light, and shadow without the distraction of colors and textures.
Concept Design
The initial design phase where architects explore ideas, establish project vision, and develop preliminary spatial concepts.
Construction Documents
The comprehensive set of drawings and specifications that contractors use to build a project, including all technical details and legal requirements.
G2 terms
Generative Design
A design process where algorithms generate multiple design options based on goals and constraints, often using AI to optimize solutions.
Global Illumination
Rendering algorithms that simulate how light bounces between surfaces, creating realistic indirect lighting and color bleeding effects.
M2 terms
P4 terms
Parametric Design
A design approach using algorithms and parameters to generate and modify complex forms based on defined rules and relationships.
PBR Materials
Physically Based Rendering materials that use real-world properties like roughness, metalness, and reflectivity for accurate light interaction.
Photorealistic Rendering
Computer-generated imagery that simulates real-world lighting, materials, and environments to create images indistinguishable from photographs.
Post-Processing
Image editing techniques applied after rendering to enhance visual quality, adjust atmosphere, and prepare images for presentation.
R3 terms
Ray Tracing
A rendering technique that simulates the physical behavior of light by tracing the path of light rays as they interact with surfaces.
Real-Time Rendering
Rendering technology that generates images instantly, enabling interactive exploration of 3D architectural environments.
Rendering Engine
Software that calculates how light interacts with 3D geometry and materials to produce 2D images from architectural models.
S3 terms
Schematic Design
The design phase that refines the selected concept into scaled drawings showing spatial relationships, building systems, and preliminary specifications.
Section Drawing
A vertical cut through a building revealing interior spaces, structural elements, and the relationship between floors.
Site Plan
A drawing showing a building's footprint and its relationship to property boundaries, landscaping, and surrounding context.
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