Small academic building we are working on.

Nice. Drapes look great. The pictures on the wall look flat, and shouldn't there be curtain rods running across the length of the window?

That must be a fun project, Kais. I would rescale the brick texture in some areas to conform with the architecture (such as at the crenellations). Will you also model the gates that had the colored glazed brick work?

That water looks inviting.
the palm tree doesn't look very realistic (the trunk), and I think she is overdressed. Other than that,

Very nice, arcvn. These images should be posted in the gallery, not WIP, as they look like the final product; you'd get more responses.

To think a country's economy never factors in the Great Game of politics, no mater the size of that country, would be naive. But it wasn't/isn't all about the money. Idealogy and world influence played/plays a part, too.

I like the coloring in the first one. Looking at the door, steps, barrel, etc., it looks like the people are out of scale (too small).

@solo said:

If we cannot break the trade embargo at least lets give them Coca Cola, they are one of three countries in the world that do not sell Coke.

OH, THE HUMANITY!

Getting back to the original question, I suspect at least part of the answer goes back to cold war politics. Cuba was chummy with the USSR, perceived enemy of the West, one result being the Cuban Missile Crisis. Because of their close ties with the USSR, becoming friendly with Cuba was never really an option.

Although a communist country, China was never really on very friendly terms with the USSR, and it seemed natural to draw the one further away from the other; the process of befriending China has been going on for decades, starting with Nixon, and involved the gradual introduction of capitalism. You have to admit the China of today is different from the China of 30-40 years ago (Chairman Mao is probably rolling is his tomb).

Personally, I like the stark white walls and ceiling, and the minimalist look. I wouldn't add anything. I would suggest maybe changing the piano to black, though. Maybe a few sheets of music on the floor to give the scene some life.

'nother beautiful one, Edson.
I noticed there isn't any signage, which would be important to any retail establishment. We've learned (the hard way) that when we don't incorporate it, leaving it up to the owner, the results are less than satisfactory.

I think that, actually, the world is becoming a better place. Yes, there are conflicts around the world, but that has always been the case. There was a time when it was much more common, though. War was considered a normal tool of diplomacy for all nations. Not to mention slavery, famine, disease, and death and destruction through natural disasters. There was a time when humanitarian aid was minimal if non-existant.

You sure got a purty rendrin'...I likes it!

Wondering about the paved area on the right - is it a patio? If it is, you might want to add some furniture. It seems like a lot of empty paving.

The brick on the front facade needs to be adjusted to the right - you have vertical mortar joints on the corner (kudos for getting the coursing lined up with the window/door heads, though). You might also think about adding sills to those windows.

looks great, usen.

The same ol' compliments are sounding stale, so here's something in Swahili.

Wewe pigo akili yangu mbali na kazi yako superb.

Wow, nice work.
With such huge engines so close to the open cockpit, it's a wonder the pilot isn't sucked into one of them, though.

Outstanding work, Massimo.

Love the retro style. No view ports or hatch?

In addition to the above comments, I'll offer some advice from a former professor in regards to presenting retail designs: Show more people. Your client does not want to spend a fortune developing a project only to see it empty.

@escapeartist said:

You make it sound so simple. You're the Bob Ross of Sketchup.

I always thought John's trees looked happy.

Overall, good modeling and rendering, but there a few things you can do to bump it up a notch.

1. Better grass texture
2. Your brick texture/model needs adjusting. The first stretcher course above the soldier course base is half a course. Also, some of the vertical mortar joints are too close tothe corners. If need be, adjust the brick texture to real world dims, and then adjust the model to conform to the brick.
3. On the foreground wall, the mortar joints on the top do not align with the joints on the vertical face. However, I think a rowlock course would be a better cap for the wall.
4. Lose the girl. Or replace her. Her coloring does not match the rest of the rendering, making her stand out like a sore thumb (I'm assuming the object of attention should be the building?). Also, what is she doing? It looks like she is throwing something.
5. You might try moving the sun around so it is coming from the right front (over the viewers shoulder) - you might get some more interesting shadows on the front of the building.
6. Add some landscaping around the building, but be careful it compliments and does not detract.