The technology:
Cutaway visualizations showing a building's internal organization — floor-to-floor heights, structural relationships, spatial volumes, and how different parts of the building connect vertically.
A section cuts through a building vertically and reveals what plans and elevations cannot show: the relationship between floors, the height of volumes, how natural light enters from above, and how circulation moves through the building in three dimensions. We produce section visualizations ranging from diagrammatic colored drawings to fully rendered photorealistic cuts — the right approach depends on what the section needs to communicate and to whom.
What a section reveals
Plans show a building as seen from directly above one level. Elevations show the outside surface. Sections show what happens between — and that’s often where the most interesting design is:
- Floor-to-floor heights and the proportional relationship between different levels
- Double-height volumes, atria, voids, and the spatial connections they create
- Staircase geometry — how circulation moves vertically through the building
- Daylight strategy — rooftop glazing, light wells, and how light penetrates to lower floors
- Facade assembly — how the external envelope connects to the interior structure and finishes
- Below-ground levels — basement car parking, plant rooms, foundations in relation to above-ground construction
Levels of representation
Section visualizations span a range depending on purpose:
Diagrammatic — color-filled areas with minimal texture, clear zone identification, annotation. Used for planning submissions, design presentations to non-technical audiences, and educational materials. Fast to produce, easy to read.
Technical illustrative — materials are indicated, structural elements are visible, people and furniture provide scale. Used for design development, client presentations, and competition panels.
Photorealistic — V-Ray rendered orthographic cut with full material and lighting quality. Used for high-profile competition submissions, publications, and marketing of complex buildings where the section itself is architecturally significant.
Choosing the cut line
Where the section is taken determines everything it can show. For a simple rectilinear building there is usually one obvious choice; for complex buildings we analyze the geometry to find the cut that reveals the most. Sometimes two or three parallel cuts are needed to tell the full story — a building with a central atrium, a staircase tower, and a basement level may need separate sections for each.
We discuss the cut line with you before modeling begins, since repositioning it later requires significant rework.
What we need from you
| Architectural drawings | Floor plans for every level, plus existing architectural sections if available. The more complete, the more we can show. |
| Section line | Preferred cut position, or we propose options based on what you want to communicate. |
| Interior design | For photorealistic sections, finish specifications and furniture give the cut its visual quality. |
| Structural information | If structural elements (columns, cores, transfer slabs) need to be visible in the section. |
| Purpose | Diagrammatic, illustrative, or photorealistic — the intended use determines the approach and time required. |
Related techniques
For showing interior spaces from within rather than cutting through them: Interior
For showing how the building sits on and relates to its site: Site Plan
For animated sections — the cut line moves through the building to reveal each zone progressively: 3D Animation
