Architectural illustrator Ahmad Johari has done some pretty amazing illustrations with a great photo-illustrative feel. He tells us how he got started and some insights to how he achieves such beautiful representations of buildings that are yet to be.

SS: You are formally trained as an architect, how did you get started doing full-blown pre visualization of architecture?

AJ: My passion of doing full-blown architectural visualization grew after I discovered Strata as a young architect working with GDP Architects in Kuala Lumpur back 1994. We started experimenting with 3D work for our presentations and I became quickly accustomed to Strata since our main design tool then was MiniCAD 5 (now VectorWorks). It was real easy to accomplish a lot of things with this combination and then produce a rendering that will impress the clients. And impress the clients we did, and a number of important jobs were secured too. Now GDP Architects have grown into one of the top architectural firms in Malaysia, and I have also moved on to set up Active Projects specializing in architectural rendering. GDP is now my main client and we still continue our collaborative work ever-since. They have described me in their own words as 'the best 3D artist in town' and the flattering gesture is only due to this long and successful relationship we have. But I must say that I have achieved all this with Strata's help.

SS: Your images have a wonderful mix of realism and an illustrative look to them how much time do you spend post render to get this look or do you get most of it right from the render?

AJ: I like to spend a lot of time setting up the render scene to get the kind of rendering I want but I still spend about 1-2 hours post render just to get everything right.

SS: What is your process when working for architecture clients? Do you import CAD files or start from elevation drawings?

AJ: The majority of my modeling work is done in Vectorworks. It gives me the flexibility to work with CAD files I get from my clients. I normally use plan drawings as the reference layer to accurately construct the wire-frame model. Elevation and section drawings are used mainly as separate references for vertical dimensions. The finished model is then exported into Strata using the simple vectorscript format. With Strata CX all the colours assigned in Vectorworks are conveniently arranged as surface textures which can be manipulated further.

SS: Your illustrations are so detailed not only the actual buildings but there surroundings too. How much time do you spend on an average external image of a building?

AJ: Ideally 2-3 weeks from start to finish including reviews with the clients. Not so ideal - a rush job in 2-3 days without sleep.

SS: You have some great examples of interior design illustration also. Do you prefer building illustrations or interior illustrations

AJ: I love to do both. The challenge is to capture the ambience, whether indoors or outdoors.

SS: The lighting used in these images is very realistic. How do you set up your scenes? Do you use global illumination set each light or some other method?

AJ: For exterior rendering with Strata CX I just need to use one global light with light dome. The use of ambient light depends on the render scene. Normally this is set to a low value between 5-10%. For interior rendering more localized lights are used in the render scene.

SS: Do you model every building that is in your scenes? For example your illustration of the KL Pavilion has several other buildings in it. Do you use background images or do you model the other buildings too?

AJ: The buildings in the background of KL Pavilion is an actual photo taken from an adjacent building. In a few cases I do have to model the surrounding buildings but I try to keep the amount of work manageable in order to get the job done within a realistic time frame.

SS: Windows or Mac?

AJ: Mac.

SS: Why do you use Strata for your tool of choice illustrating architecture?

AJ: It is definitely an indispensable tool in my work. Strata's rendering power is breathtakingly beautiful. It's simply awesome and it gives me the freedom and flexibility to manipulate my design and produce stunning work for my clients every time.

SS: Are there any other types of projects you would like to work on other than architecture?

AJ: My passion will always be for architecture. Some people say architecture is a religion. It may be true but for me the satisfaction I get from the kind of work that I do is immense and the appreciation that I receive from my clients makes it all worthwhile.

SS: Do you see a big demand in the architectural illustration field?

AJ:I believe there will always be a big demand for architectural illustration as long as there is architecture. It also possesses an immense intrinsic value from a marketing point of view. The demand for fly-thru's and animations is also growing for marketing purposes. And the budget for this kind of work is growing too.

SS: What advice do you have for other aspiring architectural illustrators?

AJ: Be the best. Perseverance would be a trusty companion in order to achieve that. But dealing with clients can also be regarded as a challenging task, something that requires a bit more than just perseverance, but after a few years of experience it becomes an art in itself. Most of all what is more important is to have passion in your work. Work hard but play harder.

You can check out more of Ahmad's work at his stratacafe.com gallery.