In an era where architectural concepts need to leap from blueprint to reality with precision, dhk Architects' 3D Visualisation team has become an indispensable force in creating visions that showcases the building before a single brick is laid. At the helm of this specialised team is the Head of Architectural Visualisation, Pieter Van Der Bijl, a seasoned professional with 22 years at dhk.
dhk Architects’ strength as a design-led studio arises from a unique blend of creative talent, technical capability, implementation expertise and commercial strategy. The studio’s 3D Visualisation team forms an essential part of this creative ecosystem, working alongside design architects and interior designers to produce high quality renders including design development iterations.
Similar to dhk's skilled building information modelling (BIM) and research and development (R&D) teams, the 3D Visualisation team forms part of the engine that drives studio operations. In April 2025, Pieter was appointed as head of the department, leading a team of 3D visualisers in the studio.
Pieter began his career as a draughtsman. Through his work in various architectural practices he acquired technical skills that proved invaluable in the field of architectural visualisation. He joined dhk in 2003 as an Architectural Technologist and after two years shifted into a 3D architectural visualiser role. Over the years, he’s accumulated a wealth of experience working on 3Dprojects across scales and complexities. His experience includes conceptual and design development modeling. He has witnessed firsthand the technological transformation that has reshaped the industry as well as dhk’s evolution.
“When you look back at what we produced back then and what we do now, it’s completely different,” he reflects. “When I started, I produced SketchUp modelling only and most others modelled in AutoCAD. We would get 2D drawings and supporting sketches to model the design and hand it over to the render team. Once the bulk of modelling was taken over by Revit, we had more time to focus on rendering, which was great, but also meant the workload increased as everyone started supplying us with Revit models,” Pieter recalls.
Bridging the gap
This technological evolution has fundamentally transformed how the team serves as a communication bridge between designers and clients. Pieter describes their role as akin to a translation tool, helping to fill the blanks after receiving models and creating a vision that can be understood by all.
At dhk, urban design, architecture and interior design are inextricably linked. The interior design team led by seasoned directors Lisa Bridgeford and Francois Steyn works closely with the 3D team to deliver exceptional designs time and again. For Lisa, the 3D Visualisation team represents one of the most valuable assets.
"The clients we have are more sophisticated than they were 10 or 15 years ago. Their expectations of expertise and excellence are demanding," she explains. "The challenge is for us to translate what's in our brains and what we assume to be obvious from a creative point of view. Being able to do this through 3D visualisation is incredible because that's the only language we can use to show the client what we're dreaming about."
Looking forward
As the leader of the discipline within the studio, Pieter is excited by the prospect of pushing creative boundaries with his team, which he describes as immensely talented, and is set to grow. “I'm excited about trying new things, including using our drone more for marketing and pushing our product delivery in an animation direction,” Pieter explains. “In the recent past, we’ve been working closely with the rest of the studio in doing design development renders in Twinmotion and/or Lumion, helping design teams make the product look good and perform better. We're also exploring and implementing AI as part of our post-production process. AI is here to stay and is developing at an incredible pace with new capabilities around every corner.”
Work-life balance
Throughout his tenure at dhk, Pieter has experienced the studio's evolution and has also become a valuable mentor to emerging talent. He believes dhk offers growth opportunities.
“We've got the best of the best here,” he explains. “All professionals who work here are willing and happy to help and share their knowledge and skills.” He describes dhk's culture as dynamic: “It’s creative, it’s busy, stressful at times, it’s happy, it’s everything. It’s nice to come to the office.” This supportive culture extends to work-life balance, something Pieter values deeply. “My focus has always been family, and I've managed to stay very involved with my kids,” he notes.
Now, with his children becoming more independent, Pieter sees a new chapter ahead, one with greater capacity to support his team while maintaining the work-life balance that dhk has always respected. Under his leadership, and with backing from the broader management team, the department is well-positioned to continue evolving.