The architectural industry is standing at a pivotal moment, one where the boundaries between design, visualization, and real-world decision-making are rapidly dissolving. With the release of Unreal Engine 5.7, this convergence has accelerated in a way that fundamentally reshapes how architecture is conceived, communicated, and delivered.
At Imaraé, where design innovation and experiential clarity are central to our philosophy, Unreal Engine 5.7 represents far more than a software update. It marks a transformational shift in how our architectural ideas, originating in Autodesk Revit, evolve into immersive, interactive, and collaborative environments that serve architects, engineers, builders, and clients alike.
From Static Models to Living Design Systems
For decades, architectural visualization relied on static outputs: drawings, renderings, and pre-rendered animations. While effective, these formats often required stakeholders to interpret the design rather than truly experience it.
Unreal Engine 5.7 changes this paradigm.
By seamlessly translating Revit-based BIM models into real-time environments, Unreal Engine enables Imaraé to transform technical design data into living digital spaces, spaces that can be explored, tested, and refined long before ground is broken.
Instead of asking clients to imagine scale, light, or materiality, we can now invite them inside the design.
A Powerful Bridge from Autodesk Revit to Real-Time Experience
Revit remains the backbone of our architectural production: precise, data-rich, and construction-ready. Unreal Engine 5.7 builds upon this foundation by extending Revit’s intelligence into a real-time visualization ecosystem.
This connection allows:
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Accurate geometry and metadata to flow directly from design documentation into immersive environments
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Design intent to remain intact while gaining experiential depth
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Rapid iteration without rebuilding models from scratch
For Imaraé, this means our Revit models no longer represent the end of design documentation—but the beginning of an interactive design conversation.
Empowering Architects Through Real-Time Design Feedback
For our architects, Unreal Engine 5.7 unlocks a new level of creative and analytical control.
Design decisions that once required multiple revisions, render cycles, or abstract reasoning can now be evaluated instantly:
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Natural and artificial lighting can be experienced dynamically throughout the day
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Material changes can be tested in real time
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Spatial proportions can be understood at a human scale
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Design alternatives can be explored side-by-side within the same environment
This immediacy encourages better design decisions earlier in the process, reducing costly revisions later and allowing architects to focus on what matters most—design quality and intent.
A Shared Language for Engineers and Consultants
One of the greatest challenges in architectural projects is alignment across disciplines. Engineers often work in parallel systems, interpreting architectural drawings through layers of abstraction.
With Unreal Engine 5.7, Imaraé creates a shared visual platform where engineers can:
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Understand spatial constraints and design priorities instantly
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Visualize complex systems in context
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Identify coordination challenges earlier
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Communicate technical feedback more clearly
By grounding engineering discussions in a real-time, spatially accurate environment, collaboration becomes more intuitive and far less prone to misinterpretation.
Builders See Before They Build
For builders and contractors, clarity is everything. Unreal Engine 5.7 allows Imaraé to present construction intent in a way that traditional drawings alone cannot.
Builders can:
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Walk through assemblies and sequences virtually
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Understand spatial relationships before stepping on site
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Reduce ambiguity around materials and finishes
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Anticipate challenges before construction begins
This level of visualization supports constructability, reduces errors, and fosters trust between design and construction teams.
Clients Become Active Participants in the Design Process
Perhaps the most profound impact of Unreal Engine 5.7 is how it reshapes the client experience.
Instead of reviewing plans or still images, clients can:
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Navigate their project in real time
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Experience scale, flow, and atmosphere firsthand
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Provide feedback grounded in experience, not speculation
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Make confident decisions earlier in the process
For Imaraé, this leads to stronger alignment, fewer late-stage changes, and a design process that feels transparent and empowering rather than opaque.
Interactivity as a Decision-Making Tool
Unreal Engine 5.7 introduces a level of interactivity that turns visualization into a decision-support system.
Stakeholders can explore:
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Design options and material palettes
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Lighting scenarios and environmental conditions
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Programmatic changes and spatial flexibility
This interactive approach transforms meetings from passive presentations into active working sessions, where design evolves collaboratively and efficiently.
Redefining the Role of Visualization at Imaraé
At Imaraé, visualization is not an afterthought, it is a strategic design tool. Unreal Engine 5.7 allows us to integrate visualization throughout the entire project lifecycle, from early concept through coordination and construction support.
The result is a workflow where:
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Design intent is preserved
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Communication is elevated
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Risk is reduced
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Creativity is expanded
Looking Ahead: The Future of Architectural Practice
Unreal Engine 5.7 signals a broader shift in architecture, one where real-time technology becomes central to how buildings are imagined and delivered.
By embracing this technology, Imaraé is positioning itself at the forefront of this evolution, offering our clients and collaborators not just buildings, but experiences, clarity, and confidence.
As architectural projects grow more complex and expectations continue to rise, the ability to visualize, interact, and collaborate in real time will no longer be a luxury, it will be essential.
At Imaraé, Unreal Engine 5.7 is not just a tool.
It is a new way of thinking about design.
Author – Jenna Van Wyk
Nov of 2025
Imaraé specializes in thoughtfully designed architectural projects that prioritize clarity, experience, and long-term value. Our work spans residential, commercial, mixed-use, and adaptive reuse projects, with a strong emphasis on design-driven solutions supported by advanced visualization technology.
Our process begins with understanding your goals, site, and constraints. We develop the project in Autodesk Revit to ensure accuracy and constructability, then extend the design into real-time, immersive environments using Unreal Engine. This allows design decisions to be informed by experience, not just drawings.
Imaraé integrates real-time visualization and interactive design directly into the architectural workflow. This means clients, engineers, and builders can experience and understand the project early, reducing miscommunication, revisions, and uncertainty while improving overall design quality.
Not at all. Our real-time environments are designed to be intuitive and accessible. You don’t need architectural or technical experience to walk through the space, explore options, or provide meaningful feedback.
Clients gain a clear understanding of scale, materials, lighting, and spatial flow before construction begins. This leads to more confident decisions, fewer late-stage changes, and a smoother overall project experience.
Yes. We regularly collaborate with external engineers, consultants, and builders. Our workflow is designed to support coordination across disciplines, providing shared visual references that help align everyone around the same design intent.
Real-time visualization is an investment that often reduces overall project risk and cost. By identifying issues early and improving communication, it can help avoid expensive revisions, delays, and misunderstandings during construction.
They directly impact the design. Visualization at Imaraé is a design tool, not just a marketing asset. Architects use real-time feedback to test ideas, refine spatial relationships, and validate decisions throughout the project lifecycle.
Our real-time environments are derived directly from our Revit BIM models, ensuring consistency between what you see and what is documented. While construction drawings remain the contractual documents, the visualizations accurately reflect design intent and spatial conditions.
Yes. Design options, materials, lighting, and spatial adjustments can often be explored interactively, allowing feedback to be incorporated quickly and efficiently.
We introduce real-time visualization as early as the concept and schematic design phases and continue to use it throughout design development and coordination, depending on project needs.
No. Projects of all scales benefit from clarity and experience. Whether it’s a single residence or a larger development, real-time visualization helps ensure the design aligns with expectations before construction begins.
Engineers gain a clearer understanding of spatial intent and constraints, helping identify coordination issues earlier. This improves collaboration and reduces back-and-forth during documentation and construction.
Yes. Builders often use real-time environments to understand assemblies, spatial relationships, and construction intent, especially in complex or design-sensitive areas.
Absolutely. Our immersive environments are effective tools for client presentations, stakeholder reviews, and internal coordination meetings. They help communicate design intent clearly and efficiently.
Yes. We deliver full architectural documentation in accordance with industry standards and regulatory requirements. Real-time visualization complements, not replaces, traditional architectural deliverables.
As involved as you’d like to be. Our workflow encourages engagement, but we tailor the process to your comfort level-whether that means hands-on exploration or guided reviews.
Yes. By allowing stakeholders to experience the design in real time, questions are answered visually and immediately, leading to quicker and more confident decision-making.
Imaraé is based in South Africa, and we work on projects across multiple regions Globally. Our digital workflow allows us to collaborate effectively regardless of geographic location.
Getting started begins with a conversation. We’ll discuss your goals, timeline, and scope, then outline a design approach tailored to your project and level of engagement.
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