A series of photorealistic architectural renderings to explore details and character of Spectra’s public life.
Rather than a means of conveying a final product, these renders were made to be used in the prototyping process, to explore qualitative aspects of the social life of the city and subtle details such as shadows cast by foliage, or the color of tree bark at sunset, which are difficult to convey in realtime 3D with current technology.
Aerial View
The aerial view shows the city’s grid layout with the block and its inner courtyard as the basic unit. Views of an intersection show how each block is composed of only two building types: corner and inline. The option to drop a corner of the block allows for a generous intersection that spills into the courtyard. The multilayer courtyard itself gives rise to a variety of spatial conditions. The design and theme of the courtyard varies according to decisions made by each block.
Public Life
Public life in Spectra is spread across three vertical layers available for public and semi-public programming: the open ground floor, the connected network of courtyards, and the rooftops. A view of the rooftops shows how they can house urban gardens, cafes, and a variety of leisure spaces. It also shows how rooftop spaces have the option to span multiple blocks, much like the level 2 spaces between courtyards.
Rendering credits: Play Time
