Architizer is delighted to reveal the Winners and Commended Entries for the 2022 One Rendering Challenge, architecture’s biggest rendering competition! After a meticulous review by our incredible panel of visualization experts, 2 Top Winners came out on top, each winning themselves $2,500 and professional rendering software packages from Chaos Group.
The Top Non-Student Prize went to Swiss designer and illustrator Arnaud Imobersteg, for his visualization “Shanty Stack“. Imobersteg’s atmospheric image — coupled with an evocative written story — proved highly compelling to jurors. “I highly admire the creative spirit and imagination that ‘Shanty Shack’ brings,” said Mengyi Fan, Director of Visualization at SHoP Architects.
Meanwhile, the Top Student Prize went to Christian Coackley, student at the University College of London (UCL), for “22 Gordon Street” — a mysterious and detailed reimagining of UCL’s famous Bartlett School of Architecture building. “’22 Gordon Street’ illustrates how architectural rendering can be used to tell an epic tale about the malleable and perpetually evolving nature of our built environment”, commented Architizer’s Editor in Chief, Paul Keskeys.
Now in its third year, the One Rendering Challenge entrants continue to raise the bar for story telling through architectural visualization. “I want to commend not only the continuing improvements in image quality, but also the quality of the architectural design in some of the more imaginative works,” commented Fan. “In general, the work has been as diverse and as high-quality as ever.”
Without further ado, explore the Winners and Commended Entries for this year’s competition below, and let us know your favorites on social media using the hashtag #OneRenderingChallenge!
Non-Student Winner: “Shanty Stack” by Arnaud Imobersteg
Shanty Stack Detail
“Uncle Alisha is saying he got sick because it’s not air anymore, he says that before we used to see the sky and it was blue.
But I don’t know — maybe he’s just getting old; he’s already 37.
The Stack is constantly growing as new people are moving in. Are they coming from Above?”
Software used: Blender and Photoshop
Student Winner: “22 Gordon Street” by Christian Coackley, The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London (UCL)
Software used: Photoshop, ZBrush
Commended Entry: “Poles and umbrellas” by HISM Studio
Software used: 3ds Max, Corona Renderer, Photoshop
Juror Carlotta Cominetti comment: “Living Characters and architecture are melted together, through darkness and expressive lights. What makes the composition powerful and charming is the play of reflections and glares; it’s a great work of sculpting, where everything is highlighted as if we were attending a real theatre performance.”
Commended Entry: “The Lantern” by Evan Mott
Or so it seemed.
In actuality, the pair were Ellen and William Craft. Enslaved since birth, the married couple devised an artful plan of escape in which fair-skinned Ellen disguised herself as William’s white owner. Four terrifying days and 1,000 miles later, they successfully carried their lantern to freedom. They would devote their lives to exposing the dark brutalities of slavery, lighting the way to liberty for others.
Today the same railroad terminal, reimagined as the SCAD Museum of Art, carries its own lantern. The glow of the 85-foot glass tower reminds us that Craft-like creativity and courage are essential in building and protecting the delicacy of equity and freedom.
Thank you, SCAD, for telling this story.”
Software used: V-Ray, 3ds Max, Photoshop, Other
Juror Alex Hogrefe’s comment: “This image has a beautiful composition and proportion to it, as well as a great story, and is also really well crafted.”
Commended Entry: “WAVE” by Roman Huzar
Software used: 3ds Max, Corona Renderer, Photoshop
Commended Entry: “Up In The Air” by Vittorio Bonapace
The author imagined the first Colony – not so far in the future – inhabiting the sky into high-altitude balloons, leaving Mars’s surface for laboratories, roads, research and science experiments.
“Up In The Air ” – Visual part of a set of three illustrations – it’s not about the first epic human’s landing on the planet but the whole concept is about the confidence of living there, enjoying home.”
Software used: 3ds Max, Corona Renderer, Photoshop, Other
Commended Entry: “Copenhagen Opera House” by Antonio D’avolio
Software used: 3ds Max, Rhino, Corona Renderer, Photoshop
Commended Entry: “Sunset Love” by Mark Eszlari
The illustrated couple expresses their love for one another, sharing a kiss at sunset, before climbing the stairs to enter this sacred space while the priest looks after them with his prayers, binding the souls together to be one. The design of the church is inspired by praying hands pointing towards heaven, the location by Greek islands. The elements such as the red roses, symbol of love, the sunset and staircase to the church contribute to the romantic emotions adding warmth to the image, a metaphor for hearts in love.”
Software used: 3ds Max, Corona Renderer, Photoshop
Commended Entry: “House in the Karpathians” by Nazarii Derkach, HISM Studio
Our team has made these images for a small house surrounded by Karpathian mountains.”
Software used: 3ds Max, Corona Renderer, Photoshop
Juror Duy Phan’s comment: “The humble muted color palette the artist used in this image helps strengthen a striking yet interesting contrast between the foreground element and the architecture context. Not only drawing the attention but such simplicity obsessively stucks in viewers mind. By breaking conventional rules, the image shows how confident the artist is; their masterful skills bring back the depth of the environment layers as well as a keen eye for mix mediums usage without losing the overall natural sense. This might be a good example for the thinking that, to make art better, try taking something out rather than adding in.”
Commended Entry: “About Storeys and Stories” by Guilherme Marcondes
Home can have a lot of meanings: it’s where we come after work, rest, see our loved ones. It’s where we process the thing that happened outside, where we plan the things we want to do outside. Most importantly, it’s where we can show our true colors: sometimes bright, strong and warm. Sometimes soft, cold and blue. Through the day and the night the façade is where we see not just the city, but also the people’s light.”
Software used: 3ds Max, Corona Renderer, Photoshop
“REMEMBRANCE” by Zoe Russian Moreno
This particular studio is a combination of said moments in time; clutter in respective areas, materiality, scale, objects and the conglomeration of mechanical pieces grounds the imagery, which brings a sense of character that many people resonate with. It’s a sense of remembering a space that does not exist. A remembrance.”
Software used: V-Ray, 3ds Max, Photoshop
“The Built Environment” by Wilson Costa
Software used: SketchUp, Photoshop
Juror Bennet Oh offered a reflection on this year’s Finalists: “Visual storytelling has never been more important than in the era of metaverse and NFTs. These technologies have proven that visualization is no longer just a supplement to show what is to be, but the product itself. This year’s One Rendering Challenge has shown some of the brightest talents in the industry, demonstrating their ability to create substance out of thin air. I thoroughly enjoyed the works of entrants who challenged themselves to not only pursue realism but also create a real ‘value’. Congratulations to all entrants for their achievements!”
Revealed last month, the top 100 renderings were published in our special editorial feature, entitled “100 Renderings That Tell Powerful Stories about Architecture”. There will also be further features on the winners in the coming weeks.
Thank you to all participants for their hard work in creating these amazing renderings, each telling a fascinating story about architecture and our world today. Our next challenge, the 3rd Annual One Photo Challenge, is one of architecture’s biggest architectural photography competitions, and it launches on May 9th — sign up now to receive key updates and prepare your submission: