Hybrid Visualization for a New Parking Garage
Owners of the historic Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs, Colorado asked me for help developing several concept design options and presentation renderings for a proposed multi-level parking structure adjacent to the 1893 hotel overlooking the famous Glenwood Hot Springs. My task was to present 3 different options to city council in order to generate enthusiasm for this public/private collaboration that would solve a much needed parking shortage in downtown Glenwood Springs.
Step 1 - Construct the 3D SketchUp Model. I obtained a conceptual parking layout and site topographic information from a local parking engineer and quickly modeled the parking geometry nested into the hillside using SketchUp Version 18.0. I built corner stair elements and added more detail to them with window mullions, stairs and roof shapes related to elements existing in a nearby pedestrian bridge. This massing model established the basic framework for exploring different facade options.
Step 2 - Develop Facade Options. Tasked with presenting 3 different design concepts, I began building different exterior “skin” options for the parking structure. As you can see from the model, I determined an optimum perspective view and saved the scene for my final rendering, therefore only modeling two of the four sides of the building - ONLY those parts of the model pieces visible in the scene!
Step 3 - Add Entourage and Model Context. This final modeling step involved populating my model with people, cars, landscaping, signage, lighting and adjust the architectural materials and colors to match those of the historic Hotel Colorado. I was fortunate enough to receive an accurate 3D SketchUp model of the hotel from another consultant who had flown a drone around the building and created a very accurate 3D scan of the structure. My completed model integrated new architecture of the parking garage with the historic architecture of the 127 year old hotel.
Step 4 - Export and Print the Model Scene. I made final adjustments to the model lighting and exported a high resolution jpg of the scene. I then printed the 9 1/2” x 16” image on oversized Epson heavy weight coated bond presentation paper using my Epson Workforce 1100 inkjet printer. Before I printed the jpg, I lightened the image by 50% using Adobe Photoshop in order for me to “add back” color using markers and colored pencils.
Step 5 - Illustrate the Scene by Hand. This step was where the fun began with the hybrid drawing project. Being “hybrid”, the process involved merging SketchUp modeling with hand drawing and coloring. I first used a water based fine point gel pen to draw directly onto the print - tracing edges, outlining people and completely transforming the appearance of the computer generated model into hand illustrated artwork. Once the linework was completed, I added light colored markers to the facade, street and entourage, leaving the sky untouched. I added texture to the street with a warm gray Prismacolor pencil and created highlights to the building with a white colored pencil. The final artwork was scanned at 300dpi and incorporated into a slide presentation for city council.
Additional View. I chose to illustrate a second view of the parking garage option by establishing a scene looking toward the historic hotel in order for viewers to clearly understand how the new building related in massing, color and materials to the existing hotel.
