Studio ArchViz

Studio ArchViz is an architectural visualisation studio creating high-quality CGI imagery, animations, photomontages and interactive visual experiences that enable people to see, understand and communicate a project before it is built.

Based in Bournemouth, Dorset, and working throughout the UK and internationally, the studio is led by Dorothy Sulzmann, an architectural visualiser with more than 20 years’ professional experience and a BA (Hons) in Illustration. Dorothy is a member of the Society of Architectural Illustrators (SAI), the UK’s professional organisation representing architectural illustrators and visualisers.

Visualising the potential of rural projects

For landowners considering diversification, one of the biggest challenges can be communicating an idea that does not yet exist.

A redundant agricultural building might have the potential to become holiday accommodation. Part of an estate could become a wedding or events venue. An underused site might support a new leisure, hospitality or commercial enterprise. But plans and drawings alone do not always communicate the full potential of that vision.

This is where architectural visualisation can be particularly valuable.

Studio ArchViz can become involved from the earliest stages of a project, creating concept visuals that help landowners, architects and feasibility consultants explore and communicate ideas before committing to detailed design.

As the project develops, more detailed CGIs and photomontages can support design development, planning applications and public consultation, particularly where it is important to demonstrate how a proposal will sit within an existing rural landscape.

Later, photorealistic CGIs, animations, virtual tours and interactive visuals can communicate the completed vision to investors, lenders, stakeholders and ultimately future customers — allowing a destination to begin building interest before construction is complete.

The aim is not simply to create an attractive image. It is to make an idea tangible and give people the confidence to understand what a place could become.

Rural and land-based experience

Our rural projects include work for Combermere Abbey in Cheshire, where we are creating architectural CGIs and animation for a proposed new marquee within the grounds of the historic estate. The visuals communicate how the new wedding and events venue will sit within its rural setting while also conveying the atmosphere and experience of the finished destination.

Near Yeovil in Somerset, we worked with AMB Developments on the conversion of five derelict former farm buildings into residential homes, using CGI to communicate the transformation of redundant agricultural buildings into a new use.

At Shoscombe in Somerset, we created visualisations for a residential development on land formerly used as part of a working farm. The site had previously accommodated agricultural barns, and the CGIs helped show how the proposed homes would sit within the surrounding rural landscape.

We have also produced CGIs for Advantage Padel in Cornwall, visualising the transformation of an existing site into a new leisure destination.

These projects demonstrate the different roles visualisation can play in rural development — from adaptive reuse and diversification to planning, leisure, hospitality and the sensitive introduction of new development into the landscape.

From first idea to finished destination

Every project begins with a conversation.

Rather than expecting a client to know whether they need a CGI, animation, photomontage or virtual tour, we start by asking what the project needs to achieve. Is the priority to explore an idea, communicate an architect’s proposal to a landowner, support a planning application, attract investment or market the finished destination?

Once we understand the desired outcome, we can recommend the most appropriate visual approach.

At an early stage, sketches, ideas, reference images and site photographs may be enough to begin. Where an architect is already involved, we can work directly from their plans, elevations and specifications.

For rural projects, we can also study mapping and GIS data to better understand the land and its wider context. Where necessary, we can visit the site and coordinate professional ground and drone photography to capture the information required.

We regularly work directly with architects, planning and feasibility consultants, landscape specialists, ecologists, interior designers and other members of the professional team. We see visualisation as one part of the wider development process, and good communication between disciplines is essential to producing an accurate and effective result.

The project is then developed in 3D, with draft visuals shared for review and feedback incorporated as the design progresses. This allows the visualisation to evolve alongside the project rather than being treated as a single, fixed delivery.

Timescales vary accordingly. An individual CGI commission may be completed within two to three weeks, while larger projects involving multiple visuals, animation or an evolving design can continue over several months. We have also supported developments over a number of years as they progress through feasibility, planning, ecological surveys, investment, detailed design, construction and finally marketing.

Experience you can rely on

Over more than two decades, Studio ArchViz has worked across residential, commercial, hospitality and cultural projects throughout the UK and internationally.

Our wider portfolio includes work for Bobby’s and The Avenue Centre in Bournemouth, Paintworks in Bristol and hospitality projects such as Flamingo in Bournemouth, alongside projects involving internationally recognised institutions including Sotheby’s in London and New York, Christie’s in London and The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace. Our work has also been featured by The Built Environment Network.

Many of our strongest client relationships span multiple projects and many years.

John Grennall of Grennall Developments has worked with Dorothy for more than ten years, rates the service 10 out of 10 and says he “wouldn’t go anywhere else now.”

Harlestone Homes has repeatedly commissioned Studio ArchViz across developments ranging from individual properties to multi-unit schemes, describing our attention to detail and collaboration as “fantastic” and our visuals as an important part of helping buyers understand a development before it is complete.

Aviary Hospitality has commissioned us across multiple hospitality projects and describes the work as both “technically precise and commercially powerful”, using the visualisations to give business partners and investors confidence before construction and to strengthen pre-opening marketing.

More than a technical representation

What distinguishes Studio ArchViz is the combination of artistic judgement, technical accuracy and more than 20 years of experience understanding how architectural imagery needs to communicate.

Dorothy’s background in traditional illustration influences the composition, light, atmosphere and storytelling within the finished imagery. The objective is not simply to represent the physical form of a building accurately, but to communicate the character and experience of the place being created.

That is particularly important for rural diversification projects, where landscape, heritage, existing buildings and sense of place can be every bit as important as the proposed architecture itself.

Whether a landowner is at the very beginning of exploring what might be possible or preparing to launch a fully developed destination, Studio ArchViz can provide the visual tools to explore the idea, communicate the vision and ultimately bring the project to life before it is built.

---

Contact Studio ArchViz