Architectural Visualization for Competitions: How to Win the Jury

Architecture competitions are a central element of Swiss building culture. Whether open competition, study commission, or invited competition — visualization plays a decisive role in the jury's evaluation. But competition visualizations follow different rules than sales renderings. In this article, we show what matters.

While sales visualizations appeal emotionally and convey a lifestyle promise, competition visualizations must clearly communicate the architectural idea. Jury members — typically experienced architects — look at different things than buyers: How convincing is the urban design concept? How is the volumetric relationship and scale? How does the building relate to its surroundings? What material language is proposed? The visualization must answer these questions — honestly and architecturally grounded.

Many successful competition entries use an abstracted, more graphic style rather than photorealism. White or subtle figures instead of photographic people. A reduced color palette that focuses attention on the architecture. Clear contrasts between building and context. Atmospheric lighting that conveys mood without kitsch. This style signals seriousness to the jury and leaves room for architectural interpretation. Of course, there is no fixed rule — the style should fit the firm and the project.

The choice of perspectives is particularly critical in competitions. Recommendations: One main perspective showing the building in its urban context — ideally from pedestrian level at the most important approach. One perspective showing integration into the neighborhood (possibly slightly elevated). If needed, one interior perspective of the most important public space. Avoid too many perspectives — quality over quantity. Three excellent images are better than six mediocre ones.

Integration into the context is crucial in competitions. Jury members evaluate how sensitively the building responds to its surroundings. Pay attention to: Scale-accurate representation of neighboring buildings. Realistic vegetation that suits the location and season. Correct topography and terrain modeling. Street furniture and urban elements. The surroundings should be realistic but not distracting — the focus must remain on the competition entry.

Competition deadlines are often tight. Plan the visualization early in the schedule — ideally three to four weeks before submission. This leaves enough time for a revision round and integration into the plan documentation. AI visualizations can be an efficient alternative when time is short. They are excellent for conceptual representations and can be delivered within a few days. At Mirae, we offer special competition packages tailored to the time and budget constraints.

From our experience with numerous competition entries, we know the typical mistakes: Too much photorealism that distracts from the architecture. People and vegetation that distort the scale. Unrealistic lighting moods that the jury does not take seriously. Inconsistent style between visualization and plan drawings. Commissioning too late, leaving no time for revision rounds.

Competition visualizations are a discipline of their own. They require a deep understanding of architecture, a strategic choice of perspectives and style, and an honest representation of the design. At Mirae, we work closely with architecture firms to create visualizations that convincingly communicate the architectural vision — and give the jury the right arguments. Contact us for your next competition project.