THe transformation from 2D design communication to 3D communication is an amazing one. Especially for the enviornmental deisgn world. The goal of a render of to capture the feeling of the mood of a space. This is mimicked through the loose feel of enviornmental renders. However, a 3D model gives space a reality. I wish more physical models were done, these days. While they are time consuming they seem to capture the reality of a space even better than a 3D rendering. There are, of course benefits to the digital renders too, as they are generally quicker, and more photo realistic. I suppose the key is to know when to choose the best method.