Architectural Dioramas in Blender

Download and install Blender, then set up two essential add-ons: IsoCam for creating isometric cameras and BlenderKit for accessing free asset libraries. Steven shows examples of his own diorama work (a Ted Lasso locker room, pub scene, trams, and an airport) to demonstrate the light, bright, isometric style you'll achieve. Preview the final park scene you'll build: terrain, trees, benches, paths, roundabout, and swing set.

Start a new file and set up an isometric camera using the IsoCam add-on. Create terrain by adding a plane, extruding it upwards, and using proportional fall-off to shape organic undulations. Toggle X-ray mode for easier vertex selection. Model stylized low-poly trees using basic shapes and modifiers, then duplicate and vary them across your scene.

Build benches and a winding footpath using vertex snapping to align geometry precisely. Apply the solidify modifier to give your flat path thickness, and the array modifier to repeat elements efficiently. Use the subdivision modifier for smoother forms. Extrude and rotate vertices to create the curving path that weaves around your trees.

Log into BlenderKit and search for assets to populate your scene. Create a sandbox scene to test downloads before adding them to your main project. Find an ice cream truck inside a larger scene download and extract just the parts you need - this is kit-bashing. Modify downloaded assets by deleting unwanted geometry and adjusting scale to fit your diorama.

Import an SVG file of cycle path markings and convert it from a curve to a mesh. Delete the filled faces to create outlines, add a tiny solidify modifier for thickness, and position the markings on your cycle lane. Turn off shadow casting for these thin objects. Then model a playground swing set from scratch using basic geometry and the array modifier for the chain links.

Apply and subdivide your terrain mesh to add detail. Use the circle select tool to paint a selection around your paths (protecting them from changes), then use proportional editing with random fall-off to create subtle terrain undulations in the remaining grass areas. Add a water feature with fountain from BlenderKit, positioning rocks around the edge.

Model a roundabout by creating a circle, adding a central vertex, filling faces, extruding for height, then applying bevel and subdivision modifiers for smooth edges. Adjust your road width to accommodate the new intersection. Tidy up road markings displaced by the changes. Explore viewport shading modes to preview how materials and shadows will look.

Switch to material preview mode and start applying materials to every object. Create new materials with descriptive names (ground green, cycle path black, hoop white). Adjust base colour using the colour wheel or hex codes, set roughness to control shininess (higher values for matte surfaces like grass), and use metallic for metal objects. Learn to apply multiple materials to a single mesh and replace node-based materials from BlenderKit with simpler ones you control.

Explore the four light types: point lights for bulbs, sun lamps for directional shadows, spotlights for focused beams, and area lights for soft fill. Add a sun lamp and rotate it to control shadow direction. Add an area light at 45 degrees for fill. Set up a split viewport to see your camera view and working view simultaneously. Add a background plane with a matching material colour.

Configure render settings in Cycles with GPU compute enabled for speed. Set sample counts (128-256 is usually enough for this style) and enable denoising to clean up the final image. Adjust colour management using AgX with medium-high contrast. Enable transparent film if you want to render without a background. Choose PNG format and render your final diorama image.