Often the only way to get my ideas through to both my client and my team doing the CGI renders is to start with hand sketching of the project - either the interior or a general external overview of the property. This allows the client to really understand my ideas and also lets my CGI team fully understand the brief before they get started on Archicad models.
Many years ago I designed a property in Cape Yamu. It was an investment property and the owner's intention was to rent it out to wealthy families looking for an exceptional villa to rent rather than a hotel. It's located in an area on the east coast of Phuket called Cape Yamu. It has eight bedrooms and an olympic size swimming pool - its really is only for the super-rich to stay in as the nightly price is in excess of 8,000$ per night. Here is the original sketch I did of my vision of that property.
Here's a few pics of me inside the property in front of some of the art pieces I created for them....
Last month I received a phone call from a couple from Bangkok that were staying in the villa while holidaying here in Phuket. They told me they had a plot of land in the Caribbean on the island of Antigua and would I be interested in designing a property for them in the style of this villa at Cape Yamu? I love these kind of clients because I already know what they like and they already know what they want. We dont need to circle each other trying to figure out what they like or if they have a budget.
The best way to get a new client onboard and enthusiastic about the whole process is to start with a sketch. This does a few things - firstly it shows that I know what I'm doing - people immediately respect anyone that can draw. They understand why I cost more than another designer. The romanticism of a hand sketch that was done just for them carries far more weight than a CGI rendering. I made two sketches for them. One from the front of the building and the other from behind. Here they are.....
The exciting thing about this project is that after I design it they would like me to travel with them to Antigua before, during and after the build process...:) I have never been to that part of the world so I'm very excited. Its very far from Thailand and I had to look on Google Maps to understand where The Caribbean Islands are and then zoom in to try and find Antigua. OMG its far and just a tiny island - I cant imagine how many planes I will have to catch to get there! My BF says he has to come too, I asked him in what capacity and he said bodyguard! Ha he is just lazy and wants a free holiday in Caribbean I think!
My team are doing the CGI renders now. My new client loved my sketches so I think this is going to be a great project. I will update here again when things have moved to the next step.