ROCKCLIFFE HALL – CGI IMAGERY FOR A CONTEMPORARY RESTAURANT EXTENSION
BRIEF
Rockcliffe Hall is a Grade II-listed manor house in County Durham, renowned as both a family-day-out destination and an exclusive events venue. Seeking to elevate the guest experience and drive new bookings the owners commissioned a sleek, contemporary restaurant pavilion set in the grounds of the Hall’s historic grandeur.
BSBA Architects asked The Pixel Workshop to deliver four photo-real CGI images that would:
- Provide aspirational visuals for marketing collateral and online promotion
- Showcase the pavilion’s clean lines alongside the manor’s traditional turrets and chimneys
- Demonstrate how the new stonework complements the existing masonry
- Contextualise the extension within Rockcliffe Hall’s landscaped grounds
THE CHALLENGE
Balancing a cutting-edge design with the character of a listed building presented key hurdles:
- Design Harmony – Ensuring neither the new structure nor the existing architecture overshadowed the other, but rather formed a cohesive whole
- Material Match – Precisely replicating the Hall’s historic stone patina from limited reference
- Landscape Integration – Modeling a bespoke planting scheme, including wild-inspired shrubs, trees at specific growth stages, and a water feature, so the pavilion felt part of the estate, not an afterthought
OUR APPROACH
1. Seamless Revit-to-3ds Max Workflow
- We imported the architects’ Revit model directly into 3ds Max for accurate geometry
- We streamlined scene assembly so our artists could focus on texture and lighting
2. Iterative Visual Development
- White-block Stage – We confirmed camera angles and massing with zero back-and-forth, keeping the process stress-free
- High-Detail Texturing –We recreated the stone façade and colouring to match the Hall’s unique coursing and weathering
THE RESULT
The four CGI stills now feature prominently in Rockcliffe Hall’s marketing campaigns, from website hero banners to brochure spreads. By marrying contemporary design with heritage charm, these visuals have helped the client generate interest on social media, drive enquiries and secure investor support.
“The Pixel Workshop captured every nuance, from the stone texture to the planting palette, while delivering on time and on brief. These images have been invaluable in promoting our new pavilion.”
— BSBA Architects
Services Provided
- Revit model integration & 3D scene setup
- Exterior & interior CGI stills
- Aerial/drone-style visualisations
