Architizer’s One Rendering Challenge celebrates the power of storytelling. Bringing together some of the most influential professionals in the ArchViz industry, the competition explores how visualizations can communicate architectural ideas and create emotive atmospheres. With 2 Grand Prizes of $2,500, the competition provides designers at any phase of their career — from undergraduate students to those with decades of completed buildings — the opportunity to share their conceptual work with the world. Discover more by subscribing to our program newsletter:
As the competition will be judged by leaders in the ArchViz field, we asked the jurors to select some of their favorite renderings created by peers. With powerful communicative qualities and unique aesthetics, these renderings represent some of the best architectural visualizations created in recent years. Get ample inspiration from the renderings below, and find out why each juror selected their favorite.
Purgatory by Csaba Bánáti, Selected by Juror Mengyi Fan
“I appreciate the sense of humor present in the image and its clear thematic narrative,” said Juror Mengyi Fan, director of visualization at SHoP Architects, who picked an rendering by Norway-based illustrator Csaba Bánáti. “Made with many 3d assets that we’ve all used in our workflows, it is both familiar and unusual in its execution. The painterly quality of the image demonstrates a mastery of lighting and provides a refreshing take on the classical interior visualization.”
Bandera Street by Submarina, Selected by Juror Matthew Bannister
Submarina was established in 2014 in Lviv, Ukraine by Taras Kvitka and Vasyl Matsola. Vasyl’s twin brother Andrij joined soon and Submarina started a journey. Juror Matthew Bannister of DBOX picked their Bandera Street rendering because of its highly believable “everyday” qualities. “I can really feel myself looking up that street and enjoying that light,” explained Bannister. “I can hear those bicycles. I can sense the temperature and the relative humidity. I can sense the time of day and the season. I want to be there. The overall image is a clever combination of 3D and photography. It also has my favorite ‘flying tree’ ever! They are a studio that is producing some great work. Consistency is the hardest part of what we all do and I feel they are starting to exhibit some real consistent quality.”
Echo Lake by Csaba Bánáti, selected by Juror Alex Hogrefe
Echo Lake was a finalist for the CGArchitect 3D award this year in the non-commissioned category by Csaba Bánáti. As juror Alex Hogrefe of Visualizing Architecture said, “It is a stunning image because of how in control he is with every element of the work. The lighting and effects are not over the top, but strike the right balance of calm and drama. It is also one of those images that you can zoom in and pan around, and each zoomed in section of the image holds up just as well as the image as a whole.”
12 Warren by MARCH MADE, Selected by Juror Ronen Bekerman
Juror Ronen Bekerman looked back over the last ten years of work, and he selected a rendering by MARCH MADE. The design and consulting firm focuses on digital environments that create art around the unbuilt. “12 Warren from early 2016 comes to my mind, specifically in the context of The One Rendering Challenge,” said Bekerman. “This rendering showcases a different approach to architectural visualization. Taking the marketing phrase ‘CARVED FROM THE QUARRY’ very literally, it is a fresh breeze to what seems like a very matured and defined discipline by now, reminding us it does not have to be that way, and there are still paths to be explored and not just on the technical side.”
Earlybirds by MIR, Selected by Juror Juan Rico
MIR is a creative studio that specializes in portraying unbuilt architecture. Founded back in 2000, their goal is to create enthusiasm. For juror Juan Rico of Methanoia, their “Earlybirds” work was his favorite. “I’ve picked this image among thousands of favorites that I have, just to picture the power of synthesis on an image. None of the compounding elements is specially highlighted in the render, there are no superstars. Thus, the dialogue between them, where nothing is less and nothing is missing, evokes the proper feeling the visualizer is looking for.”
Red Planet by Tamas Medve, Selected by Juror Keely Colcleugh
Juror Keely Colcleugh of Kilograph choose Tamas Medve’s rendering for its emotive quality. Medve is an architectural illustrator based out of Budapest. “The use of color and form suggest a certain mood that is not the expected dystopian future image. It is closer to concept art and a reminder that realism is subjective. We can use our skills as artists to give another reading of architecture and urban conditions that is not the photo reality. It might be the emotional reality.”
We Found Something by Thomas Dubois, Selected by Juror Britta Wikholm
Thomas Dubois is an architect from the south of France who is currently working out of Montpellier. His work is grounded in a love of drawing and storytelling. “One artist that I’m really inspired by in our industry is Thomas Dubois and his artistic style and way of creating images,” said juror Britta Wikholm of Visulent.
Now, it’s your turn: click to learn more about Architizer’s One Rendering Challenge:
