Thea also gets the win in licensing and cost per seat if you base it on a render engine studio with two nodes. Einstein doesn't understand Maxwell's licensing policy. It's also worth noting that Next Limit changed the licensing policy between version 1 and version 2. This change broke out the render nodes from the purchased package and caused an increase in price. After this you never know what kind of changes they will make and charge you for. Maxwell's render quality is amazing but in today's economy you have to balance quality with cost and time.
I would recommend Thea for a studio render and get Twilight for any lightweight models you have.
Cheers.

Very nice work, Joe.
Thank you for sharing. You might consider putting it up over at cadyou.com

Wow, it's refreshing to see some native SU work. Excellent work. The simple style really works well on these very detailed models you are all showing.

Existing customers can login to their customer gateway to get discounted upgrade pricing. I checked and a v1 to v2 upgrade is $277 (US). It's $172 (US) to upgrade node licenses.
I think I'd rather have Thea so I'll upgrade only if Spain wins the whole thing.

::It's still less money to buy Thea with 2 node licenses and sketchup plugin::

It is indeed an alpha channel. You can select it by going to the alpha channel under the Channels window and command+clicking the channel. From here you can make a clipping mask to drop in your sky etc.
Should I make a quick tutorial on that?

Amazing work, excellent article.

you could delete all users, but it's not like zeroing out the HD.

Just wanted to say thank you to you guys for the support. I'm working on some changes and will re-post the full design here. cheers!

@arjunmax09 said:

nice work!!! .. I'd like to ask that how did you create those filled walls in sectional views? SketchUp is modelling... my walls come as hollow on sectioning...

Thanks, I exported the view from sketchup and then did a filled layer above in photoshop and filled in the section. There is a plugin for this but I never loaded it up.

@mike lucey said:

I know Greg from the old @Last Forums. He designs some really cool houses. Receiving this comment from him carries weight ..... so SketchUcation Members! Get your arses over to the site http://www.freegreen.com/whosnext/view/plan-general.aspx?id=43 and give the Nock House a vote.

Mike

Mike, I agree. Greg has been doing a high level of design work that I've been admiring for awhile. To have him make such comments is a big win for me regardless of how the competition goes for me. It's a total honor to have him give me a vote and even take the time to comment on my thread here. There have been a lot of people come and go from the modern residential scene here in the USA; but Greg has been doing it the right way year in and year out. So, go over and give Greg a vote on his entry as I did!

http://www.freegreen.com/WhosNext/view/plan-general.aspx?id=27

@linea said:

According to the expert that does the maintenance for us helical turbines have nowhere near as many problems! You probably know this Cheffey but I thought it might be good info for somebody else.

I had not heard this but I did get have some info on these wind turbines from a local newspaper article about a residence that has been adding wind and solar to bring their monthly bill down. I'll have to see if I can dig that article up.

Thanks for the comments guys. I don't mind it being a work in progress for a while

I know the Mike that was he's a developer friend of mine. He doesn't care for modern design at all.
I don't let that bother me though.

Mike has it right on target. It's overflow so that the living space can expand. You know when you have your friends over playing wii or rock band!
Thank you all for the support, I truly appreciate it. After this is over with I'll upload an updated version here that addresses those suggestions you guys are giving me.

Thanks for the comments Mike and dozer.
I will definitely work those comments into the design. There are clerestory lights in every room but I do like the idea of lookout window in kitchen.

The wind turbine is really suited to higher elevation areas, in the southeast USA we have had good results with wind turbines on the many ridges around the foothills of the Appalachian mtn. range. There are many houses that are essentially off-grid in the area now. I didn't show photovoltaics, because I've heard the same as dozer about the wind turbine. The conduits could be run though to allow them to be installed at a later date. I was trying to use the most cost effective without getting too much initial cost. What I've found in this area it's wind and rainwater harvesting. It could be though; that the initial systems are selected based on region.

Thanks for the vote and comments!

cheers

I haven't posted anything in a while and recently entered in this competition.
I could use any help I can get; so help a struggling architect out and visit and vote.

It's an affordable starter home using sustainable features. The client is a young couple into video games and technology. They work from home and are considering having at least 1 maybe 2 children. I know someone needs to talk them out of that.

The design of the house is so that they can expand the house and build a office out back with full view of a play lawn, after the kids move into the front bedrooms. They wanted an open living, dining, and kitchen space so that friends and family could all congregate together whether you are playing rock band or cooking dinner. The sustainable features are so that in the future their monthly costs will stay down as other expenses arise, such as prom dresses or an additional car.

Please take a look at my submission and vote.

http://www.freegreen.com/whosnext/view/plan-general.aspx?id=43

or maybe a darker sky, I think contrast between foreground and background will help.
quick rehash.

Here is a DVD Watercolor Workshop with Vladislav Yeliseyev

404 Not Found

(www.yeliseyev.com)

Looks very realistic to me. Maybe add a bit of the sun peeking out over the rocks.

looks like bechura sees your speed modeling and raises you a concept shop...

Good work, looking forward to seeing their new site.

i like these too. reminds me of something a young Lucas might come up with.
the top one (06) is my favorite.