The architect’s design process is already overwhelming, so it’s more than welcome whenever a chance comes to make it a little less nerve-wracking. So many talented 3D designers are out there creating models for other designers – and that’s just a chef’s kiss! Imagine having to draw your own couches, sink fixtures, window details, or plants!
The work will never end, and the final rendered images will never pass as realistic. Actually, in a way, an architect is like a gourmet chef who relies on highly prepared ingredients to craft the best dishes. The higher the quality of those ingredients, the more time there is to innovate in the outcome. This article will discuss 10 of the best sources from which to get free 3D models.
Thingiverse
Thingiverse offers a variety of 3D models such as gadgets, tools, art pieces, educational models, toys, and various functional objects. Its high focus on 3D printing has earned this platform a high user base of hobbyists, professionals, educators, designers, and DIY enthusiasts. It offers several high-quality free models that are frequently updated by a large, active community. The models are generally in common printing formats such as STL and OBJ, which makes them compatible with software such as Blender, Fusion 360, and Cura.
Sketchfab
Sketchfab is another widely used platform rich in versatile 3D models like characters, creatures, vehicles, electronics, furniture, nature, and architecture. It is favored by artists, designers, architects, educators, and businesses in need of interactive 3D content. New models are regularly uploaded, and there is solid support from their community and active forums. It has some paid content, but the free content is of high quality and available under the Creative Commons licenses. They can be utilized and exported to many design software such as Blender, Unity, Unreal Engine, and other 3D and VR platforms.
TurboSquid
TurboSquid is another great platform that caters to professionals in film, game development, engineering, and architecture. It has high-detail 3D models for characters, vehicles, architecture, and industrial design. The content is regularly updated and super high quality with photo-realistic attributes, which is why there are not many free models. However, they come in several formats like MAX, OBJ, and FBX, which make them flexible to use with software such as 3ds Max, Maya, Blender, Cinema 4D, and Unreal Engine.
GrabCAD
GrabCAD has a niche-audience with a very rich 3D model supply that ranges from mechanical parts, engineering models, assemblies, to technical designs. So, obviously, its main user base is engineers, product designers, and students of aforementioned domains. The platform offers very high-detail models that are completely free and continuously updated by an active engineering community. Any 3D model on this website can be seamlessly used in software like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Inventor, and CATIA.
CGTrader
CGTrader caters to a variety of professional designers, architects, game developers, and animators. The platform has architectural models, character models, vehicles, plants, household items, industrial parts, and more – making it very suitable for architectural design projects. The quality of these models is fairly high, with the option to go from low-poly to high-detail. The little drawback, unfortunately, is that it has more paid 3D models than free. It also supports multiple formats such as OBJ, FBX, and 3DS that are compatible with software like Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, Unity, and Unreal Engine.
3D Warehouse
3D Warehouse is part of Sketchup and very famous among architects, interior designers, and design enthusiasts. Its library has anything your mind can think of such as architectural elements, furniture, fixtures, vehicles, and even whole projects. The 3D models are entirely free and highly accessible, and if you search well there are many impressively detailed ones. You can opt to download models in (.dae) format, which makes them available on several other powerful software like Blender, 3Ds Max, and Unreal Engine. Also, this platform provides the option to convert models under 10MB or 200k polygons into USD or GLB formats with shareable QR codes, which makes them compatible with various AR/VR applications.
Free3D
Free3D lives up to its name and offers a wide array of high-quality free models, including characters, vehicles, architecture, electronics, furniture, and more. It caters to a broad audience of 3D artists, hobbyists, game developers, and students. The 3D models are versatile as they can be downloaded in several formats as well (OBJ, FBX, 3DS, and STL). This platform might not have a very active community or forum per se, but it has user ratings which really help in navigating options.
Freepik (with emphasis on 3D models)
Freepik is the go-to website for various designers worldwide, as it offers a wide range of content not necessarily exclusive to 3D models, but also vectors, photos, icons, templates, fonts, and more. It is generally biased to the digital design niche of graphic designers, web designers, marketers, and content creators. However, recently, it has been offering free 3D models (such as furniture, interior design objects, etc.) in OBJ and FBX formats, making them compatible with various software not limited to the Adobe Suite. This addition ultimately broadens their user base to architects, designers, and more.
Cults3D
Cults3D offers downloadable models in STL format, compatible with 3D printing software like Cura, PrusaSlicer, and Simplify3D. It offers a range from fashion, art, jewelry, home décor, toys, to various 3D models. It has high quality and creative content that is regularly updated, and an active community with user reviews and ratings. It can be used by anyone, but mainly 3D printing enthusiasts, hobbyists, and artists.
3DExport
3DExport is notable for its high quality 3D models that are regularly updated and frequently added. It has vehicles, architecture, electronics, household items, and more in various formats (OBJ, FBX, MAX) that make it compatible with leading software (Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, Unity, and Unreal Engine). Therefore, it’s mainly used by 3D designers, game developers, animators, and visual effects artists. The only drawback, however, is that it has more premium paid content than free.
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