Our Case Study: Architecture Competition Renders for Fietsznfabriek in Haarlem, Netherlands – 1st Prize Won

Tender Renderings Assignment

We were invited to create five architectural visualizations for the Fietsznfabriek architecture tender entry by two teams of architects, namely: Paul de Ruiter Architects and LAP Landscape and Urban Design. This project had a strong historical character incorporating local characteristics.

The historical significance and the project’s name was the core identity of the projected space. Consequently, they became a strong axis for designing visual elements for the tender renders. New buildings and architecture was proposed for the former bike factory site next to the modernized ones in Haarlem. Directly translated, Fietsznfabriek means Bike Factory.

Rendering Challenge and Commended Entry Abstract

Although designers are equipped with great digital tools which makes it easier to create images, there is still a great deal of craft in visualization. Architects, designers and competition participants tell stories through images.

As 3D artists with an architectural background, we know what our responsibility is when we are invited to take part in architecture competitions entries. We understand our task and how much is depended on the final outcome of the architectural renderings. We are aware of the role we play in the whole process. As always, we aimed to secure the architect entry and help win. 

Urban renders were a useful tool used for visualizing Fietsznfabriek Project.

1st Prize Architectural Competition / Project: Fietsznfabriek Haarlem, Netherlands / Design and architecture winners team: Paul de Ruiter Architecten x LAP Landscape & Urban Design / Architectural 3D image: RNDR

Project Needs

We wanted to ensure that the architectural competition illustrations depicted the project’s atmosphere, character, and intention of the architects that would set it apart from other team entries in the competition. Therefore, our self-referring question and main task was: How do we reflect the architect and design teams project qualities on the published architectural renderings?

We started from the base: research and understanding. Our goal was to explore the project’s unique elements, location, and history and find a way to bring these details to life in the quality set of architectural visualization through digital tools.

archiecture urban scale render

1st Prize Architectural Competition / Project: Fietsznfabriek Haarlem, Netherlands / Design and architecture, interdisciplinary teams: Paul de Ruiter Architecten x LAP Landscape & Urban Design / Architectural 3D image: RNDR

Working on the Tender Visualizations

We wanted to capture the city’s atmosphere on the architectural portraits while simultaneously showcasing the architectural form I that blends in with sustainable living and provide the residents with a captivating view of their surroundings. On one hand we knew that we needed to produce renderings with a dynamic look and feel. However on the other hand they need to be intimate and preserve the relaxing atmosphere.

From the Outside to Inner Spaces

The most dynamic architectural 3D images were the aerial and street view images showcasing the outside of the building where the project is on display to the public. All other 3D images were more relaxed and intimate. This diversity of winners architect design stand out among other competition team entries.

The Location of the Fietsznfabriek Building

The location of the Fietsznfabriek competition project played an integral role as it is located in historical city center of Haarlem, next to the Amsterdamse Poort and Koepelgevangenis. Likewise the connections to the city. It can be seen on the aerial view image and street view rendering above.

On the Oostvest street, six new buildings create an urban wall proposed by the architects. Despite the fact that it is a new design, it makes reference to the historical character of the area in form and materials. Next to it you can see a modernized existing printing company. Buildings construct a shape which create an inner courtyard and area for wild forest.

The Diversity of Participants’ Design

The competition architecture visualizations showcased both the structure of the buildings and interior space, as well as its surrounding outdoor spaces and landscaping. In this sense, each view introduces different parts of the design and how it is connected to the city or relates to its history. It makes more sense to consciously choose the most representative spaces and visualize them with an optimal level of detail.

It was important to illustrate the design’s diversity and creativity on 3D architecture visualizations within historical elements preserved on visual layers. We also emphasized storytelling elements, such as landscape, plantations, lighting composition, and human activity, to accurately depict the project from multiple angles. 

Composition and Scenes Framing Architectural Rendering

Cameras were chosen by designers and architects in a sequence to lead the viewers from the wider picture, through street views from the outside to the inner street and into more private spaces like an inner courtyard and collective forest. This navigates from very contextual views with public use with hardscape to more private and green areas – showing different categories of architectural spaces.

Framing the Connection

The connection between the outside, public areas filled with the city buzz and the private, intimate, more calm project part is made of the alley seen on the archviz below. It runs from the Oostvest to the Houtmarkt and the Binnen Spaarne, leading directly to the green space – inner courtyard called Fiesztnhof. 3D renders underline these features and significance of the architectural project commended entry.

architectural visualization

1st Prize Architectural Competition / Project: Fietsznfabriek Haarlem, Netherlands / Design and architect team: Paul de Ruiter Architecten x LAP Landscape & Urban Design / Architectural rendering: RNDR

Landscape, Sustainability and Architectural Form

The new courtyard design proposal for historic Haarlem seeks to be a harmonious blend of the old and the new, a modern take on the centuries-old courtyards of Haarlem. The inner courtyard called Fietnszhof is created by the single family buildings, which enclose the green space. Underneath there is a sunken parking garage. The architectural renderings are inspired by the city’s rich heritage, with a contemporary twist.

Haarlem Hofjes and Pedestrian Connections

A key part of the building’s design proposal was creating the Haarlem hofjes, the intricate network of streets and alleyways that form the city center. The rendering world was aimed to reflect these ideas on the images. As seen on the published rendering above, these pathways are not just paved, but have lush greenery and façade gardens that adorn the welcoming entrances with detail. The gates that lead into the courtyards and alleys create a unique charm that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

Fietsznhof Rendering: a Green Story of the Past

The architecture design proposal is a classic and modern Haarlem courtyard, as it is placed in historic location. That is why various features on architectural competition renderings refer to the history of the location and the courtyards in Haarlem.

The icon of the inner courtyard is the ornamental street work, which you can see on architecture render below. This historical imprint was evoked visually by using the slogan ‘God preserves the ship’ displayed in the intricate fencing. As a nod to the past, other ports are referencing Het Scheepje.

Architectural Framing of the Fietsznhof

The tender visualization below shows a built environment in the form of single-family buildings surrounded by façade entirely made of wood. The development comprises approximately 64 sustainable homes, 20 of which are social homes, with a sunken parking solution. About 20 of them, which give a third of the housing development will be designated as social rental properties and these twenty houses will be located in the old printing house.

architecture render

1st Prize Architectural Competition / Project: Fietsznfabriek Haarlem, Netherlands / Design and competition winners: Paul de Ruiter Architecten x LAP Landscape & Urban Design / Competition rendering image: RNDR

Tiny Collective Forest Rendering: a Green Story of the Present

The final architectural visualization brought a story of tiny forest to life – a collective garden placed between the buildings. This idea for this part of the project came from experience as many inner areas of building blocks turn into a green wilderness over the years, which can be seen on the image below. That is why this competition rendering is showing wild greenery and a landscape, expressing how natural and architectural elements can coexist. By planting a lot of ground cover plants in combination with trees with a light crown, a ‘tiny forest’ is created on the tender visualization. The vegetation rustles and provides a habitat for birds and insects, while the forest at the back portrays the sense of an intimate atmosphere.

Architectural Form among the Greenery

Constantly growing need of sustainability and ecological solutions bring architects and interiors designers to responsible design. Therefore, you can see it on the buildings on the Oostvest where the façades are dominated by greenery. The printing company, which has been converted into an apartment building with open to outside interior space areas, will have a roof garden, while solar panels and sedum will be installed on various roofs. On top of that each house has a small, delicate elevated, terrace platform floating above a garden with many of green plants.

landscape visualization

1st Prize Architectural Competition / Project: Fietsznfabriek Haarlem, Netherlands / Design and competition winners: Paul de Ruiter Architecten x LAP Landscape & Urban Design / Architecture rendering image: RNDR

A Visual Story through Architectural Visualization Art

A visual story through tender renders is essential to bring any project to life and allowing competition juries to experience the proposed design and vision of the architect’s commended entries. By combining architectural renderings with thoughtful storytelling, we can allow all viewers to experience what was designed and give each project the attention and appreciation it deserves.

By emphasizing visual storytelling on architectural renderings, we strive to not only help better communicate your design concept entries to all viewers, but also create a connection between viewers and the project, allowing them to develop an emotional attachment to it, making your project memorable.

Crafting Rendering Experiences

We focus on creating rendering experiences that bring concepts and ideas to life. Focusing on the right digital tools for creation of renders that tells mesmerising stories about architectural form or interior spaces and its inhabitants. The art of rendering and imagination helps us to convey the architects and designers ideas in the 3D world and secure the winners commended entry of participants and interdisciplinary teams (architects, interior designers, urban planners, landscape architects).

Your project can be located anywhere in the world and be at any scale. See examples of our previous works of built environments, interior spaces or landscape and urban projects by clicking here.

Summary of Winners Images Creation

Working on Fietsznfabriek architectural tender renders was an effort where we focused on how natural, historical and architectural forms can coexist on the images and what is the best way to show diversity of functions within this project. We were using architectural renderings and visual elements to create bridges between layers of meanings – past and present, nature and culture, history and current elements of the space.

The use of published 3D architectural visualizations was intended to convey complexity of the designed spaces and help show how architects achieved the project’s goals, resulting in a visual experience that convinced final viewers and participants – the competition jury in this case. Commended entries have been officially announced! We know this goal was achieved as the Fietsznfabriek project proposal got a 1st prize and won.

Want to Know More?

  • If you are an architect, in the architectural or real estate industry and looking for great render partners for competition entry or to market your project in details.
  • If you love appealing renderings or visualisations technologies that brings architectural or interior spaces to life and tell a story about your built environment.
  • If you want your designed spaces to stand out from the crowd through creativity and 3D archviz technology among other entries.

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Let’s Create Together!

It doesn’t matter where you conduct business, we work with a global audience. Entries could be in the form of any type of briefing of exterior or interior spaces, model, parallel projection, sections or abstracts with key updates in design sent from anywhere in the world. We are waiting for your rendering challenge!

Malgo Widaj

Malgo Widaj

founder and owner of RNDR, art director, and head of all operations at RNDR

After 10 years of designing public spaces around Europe in both projects and competitions, a desire was born to start an international atelier with an inclusive and sustainable approach, that focuses on meaningful beauty creation driven by tech. And it happened!

Now RNDR teams are helping product designers, architects, and developers around the globe to increase visual communication through storytelling images, improve media presence, win project competitions or leverage sales through rendering experiences.

DO YOU HAVE THE TIME AND SKILLS
TO CREATE HIGH-QUALITY RENDERS?

DO YOU HAVE THE TIME AND SKILLS
TO CREATE HIGH-QUALITY RENDERS?