AN ARCHITECTURAL practice can provide a Grand Designs-style service to its clients after investing in the latest computer technology.

Jason Lawford of Ferndown has set up Virtual World Architectural Service after operating computerised architectural services in the town for 20 years.

He said: “We have always worked up our projects in full 3D on a computer, from which we can produce photo-realistic views and animations for presentations or planning applications, but finally technology has evolved that now means we can share our full 3D model with our clients at a very early stage, and work through the design with them, to ensure the end result is exactly what they want.”

He said many people find two-dimensional plans and drawings difficult to follow, or find it hard to visualise the completed project.

The new software enables the firm to send the client a full computer model which can be viewed on any device but works best on an iPad.

The client can spin around the outside of the building or “land” at a floor level and “walk” through the proposed building.

“As a practice we work on projects ranging from a basic house extension, through to full housing estates and mixed developments with a build cost in the tens of millions. The flexibility of this software allows us to provide this level of services to all projects,” he said.

The firm is to offer a no obligation consultation during which it will show the new software in action and discuss details of a potential customer’s project.