Creating Balanced Design Using SketchUp and IRender nXt

We are excited to touch base with Michel Loo, Creative Director at INNERMODE.  INNERMODE is a well-established dynamic Architecture and Interiors studio based in the Melbourne suburb of Huntingdale, Australia, since 1994.

Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city and largest seaport, Port Phillip.  It was once the capital of Australia before being changed to the purpose-built city of Canberra in 1927.  With a population of around 5 million, Melbourne’s urban area is slightly larger than that of London, while its metropolitan area is larger than Jakarta.  Melbourne is well known for its Victorian architecture, and high concentrations of buildings from that era can be found in the inner suburbs. 

A view of Melbourne

Hello Michel!  Please tell us about your business.
INNERMODE is a multi-disciplinary practice with a diverse portfolio of workplace and commercial building projects that each carries our hallmarks of creativity, innovation and experimentation.

What sets INNERMODE apart from others in your niche?
Our main focus is to be responsive to our clients’ vision.  We are committed to design that expresses the inter-relationships between employees and their workplace, to create space and form, color and materials, the people and their environment. We believe design to be a careful composition of many elements in balance with one another.

When did you start using SketchUp and IRender nXt?
I started using Sketchup probably 6 years ago and am self-taught through internet tutorials.  Soon after I started using SketchUp I was researching various render programs and stumbled across IRender.  I have found it quite simple to use.

What do you like about IRender nXt? Are there any features in the software that you find especially useful?
Being self-taught and not having much time to explore the different and expansive IRender functions, I’ve taken a somewhat straightforward approach and tend to use what I’ve become become familiar with.  So, I mainly use the IRender preset defaults and make minor changes to the lighting which produces “good-enough” renderings.  However, I intend to start exploring and improving my rendering skills to create more realistic images to support our workplace projects.

Are there any features in the software that you find especially useful?  What elements do you pay most attention to when you render an image? 
I love the ability to add reflection qualities to my renderings.  I often explain to customers that adding different textures or reflective types of decor like mirrors, or perhaps a touch of chrome in a room, adds important interest to the overall design. 

What elements do you pay most attention to when you render an image? I find lighting to be the most important element in achieving a high level of realism.  This is one of my biggest challenges and I find myself having to adjust settings and re-render images as some of my initial renderings can be too dark.  I’ve also found that it can be time consuming to generate renderings, so I’ve tried used layers, creating components, etc. in an effort to reduce rendering time, but it can still be an issue.

Please give us some background on a recent project you’ve done for which you’ve produced renderings using IRender nXt. We’re currently working on a public funded workplace project in the City CBD.

Axonometrics of the workplace

Staff kitchen space

Collaboration space

Meeting room

Did you receive any feedback on the renderings for this project? 
The 3D sketches and axonometrics renderings were presented to our client giving them a spatial presentation of design concept. The presentation was well received and conveyed our intent perfectly. I was happy with how things turned out. 

Thank you, Michel!

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