MOLT Studios | Recent Work

MOLT Studios

NATHAN SHOBE

As a 10-year veteran in the visualization industry, Nathan strives to engage collaborators and maintain relationships across a broad range of clientele including architects, developers, real estate brokers and furniture designers. He sees these working relationships as an invaluable link between our client’s vision and a well-executed deliverable. Additionally, Nathan keeps his eye on the rapidly evolving trends in AI and gaming engines for real time environment development. Beyond the workday, he keeps busy raising his young son with his wife and racing both electric and internal combustion cars on local tracks and autox events.

Before MOLT:

B.S. Arch., Lawrence Technological University, Summa Cum Laude

M.Arch, Harvard Graduate School of Design

CHRIS HOXIE

Chris has spent 25 years working at the intersection of architecture, media and the built environment. As an early pioneer in architectural imaging, his work is included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Chris has taught digital media at Harvard, Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania and has collaborated with several world class architects. His research examines the role of media in the design, documentation and perception of the built environment. He lives with his wife and dog on Bainbridge Island where he is renovating his house on a historic strawberry farm.

Before MOLT:

B.A. Sculpture and Architecture, Bennington College

M.Arch, Harvard Graduate School of Design

MOLT

A MODEL FOR INTEGRATED CONTENT CREATION

At MOLT, we pride ourselves on being an innovative and integrated practice that seamlessly blends cutting-edge technology, diverse expertise, and collaborative synergy to deliver captivating visual experiences.

Our creative approach is twofold. Firstly, we draw inspiration and techniques from various industries, such as Hollywood’s film-making prowess, to continuously enhance our client deliverables. Not only were we pioneers in adopting non-destructive post-production software, but we also bring together talents from eclectic backgrounds to fuel our associative thinking and inventive spirit. Our recent addition, an acclaimed color grader for HBO series and feature length films, now is our director of color, ensuring a distinctive touch to every project.

Secondly, our client engagement emphasizes early involvement as visualization consultants, functioning as an extension of your design and marketing teams. We maintain and update a 3D design intent model using Rhino, fostering a cohesive synergy among many of the design disciplines including architecture, interiors, landscape, civil and structural teams. Our visuals, crafted in 3dsMax, Vray, Corona, Unreal Engine 5, and Twinmotion, evolve in concert with your project from concept design through to final project design approval and often manifest as real estate marketing collateral. By providing high-end digital media as a design tool for consensus building among all stakeholders, we save time and money, allowing your design teams to focus on problem-solving and creativity.

As a company helmed by trained architects, MOLT excels at integrating with your design process, delving into the tectonic level, and transforming your vision into immersive visual experiences. With over 35 years of combined experience in professional image-making, we’ve honed our craft through a deep understanding of rendering, animation, photography, and videography technologies. As educators at the highest level of academia, we infused our practice with a research-driven approach, constantly exploring tools and technology from various creative industries.

MOLT was founded on the belief that rendering, animation, video, compositing, infographic, and mapping services should be fully integrated under one roof. We are here to provide you with the tools you need to tell the most compelling story of your design proposals. Join MOLT and let us help bring your project to life!

GEOLOCATION PROJECTS FROM 1999-2023

PROJECT METADATA 1999-2023

2023

Figure Office x Studio Jih

Memorial to the Victims of the 1871

Chinese Massacre

City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs

Competition Spring 2023

4 Photo composite images

2022

Replay Destinations

Nelson Partners

Floor Associates

Ascent at the Phoenician:

Camelback Residences

Luxury Residential

Phoenix, AZ

Opening Spring 2024

40+ Marketing Images + animated content

Overland Partners

Private Ski & Golf Resort

Wasatch Mountains, UT

In Progress

Design development images

Dahlgren Duck

Bel Air Bay Club

Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles

In Progress

3 Marketing images

Replay Destinations

DTJ Associates

Alcove at River Run Village

Luxury Residential

Keystone, CO

Opening Summer 2024

65+ Marketing Images + cinegraphs

2021

Replay Destinations

Nelson Partners and Floor Associates

Ascent at the Phoenician: Mountain Club

Luxury Residential

Phoenix, AZ

Opening Spring 2024

12 Marketing Images + Cinegraphs

Olson Kundig

Quarry Mountain Residence

Park City, Utah

6 Schematic design Images

Brookfield Properties

Class A Landmark Office Building: City Center 707 & 717

Denver, CO

Marketing images + animation

2020

Brookfield Properties and LJC

24 E. Washington | Macys Flagship

Chicago. IL

Open Spring 2021

Animation, videography and marketing images

Replay Destinations

Olson Kundig

Mill District Healdsburg:

Canopy Residences

Luxury Residential

Healdsburg, CA

Opening Spring 2024

40+ Marketing Images + animated content

Replay Destinations

Nelson Partners

Floor Associates

Ascent at the Phoenician:

Mountainside Residences

Luxury Residential

Phoenix, AZ

Opening Spring 2024

35+ Marketing Images + animation

2019

Olson Kundig

Confidential Residential Design

Aspen, CO

Opening Summer 2022

20+ Design development images

Huntsman Architectural Group

Confidential Office - Adaptive Reuse

Washington, DC

Opening 2019

6 Final perspectives

Olson Kundig

Nicole Hollis

Confidential Residential Design

Atherton, CA

In-Progress

65+ Images + VR

Olson Kundig

Confidential Residential Design

Laguna Beach, CA

Opening Fall 2019

60+ Design development images

2018

Recompose, Inc.

Conceptual design and visualization for a new model of death care. Seattle location in operation

1 Concept image currently helping raise 10.75m in venture capital

Olson Kundig

Margaux Grill, JW Marriott Hotel

Seoul, South Korea

Open Fall 2018

3 Final interior images

Integrus Architecture

United States Consulate

Hyderabad, India

Opening 2021

9 Final images for OBO design approval + exhibition

2017

Olson Kundig

Private Residence

Dalaro, Sweden

Fall 2017

2 Interior design options

Olson Kundig

Confidential Restaurant Design

Sonoma, CA

In Progress

~40 Design development images

Schuchart/Dow

Private Residence

Malibu, CA

Fall 2017

17 Design development images

Olson Kundig

Private Residence

Malibu, CA

Opening: 2020

12 Design development images

2016

Integrus Architecture / ZGF

Architects

United States Embassy - Sri Lanka

Colombo, Sri Lanka

In-Progress

8 Final images for OBO design approval + exhibition

Miller Hull Partnership

United States Embassy, Guatemala

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Completed 03/08/16

5 - Phase 1 design development images

Olson Kundig

Millerton Farm House

Undisclosed Location

Complete

4 Kitchen design options

Huntsman Architectural Group

Confidential Office - Adaptive Reuse

Undisclosed Location

Open 2018

6 Final images for client approval

Olson Kundig

Taiwan Villas - Luxury Residential

Taipei, Taiwan

Open

4 Marketing images

Huntsman Architectural Group

Corporate Headquarters

Palo Alto, CA

Open 2017

9 Final design images for client approval

2015

Perkins+Will

University of Washington

School of Medicine

Seattle, WA

Open Summer 2018

9 Final images for design approval + publication

Todd Williams Billie Tsien

Architects

Hood Museum of Art - Dartmouth

Renovation and expansion

Hanover, NH

Open Winter 2019

6 Final images for design approval + publication

Mack Scogin Merrill Elam

Architects

Jackson Park

Queens, NY

Open Spring 2018

~100 Design development renderings + VR

2014

Mack Scogin Merrill Elam

Architects

Three Alliance Center

Skin system + Lobby

Atlanta, GA

Opened Spring 2017

70+ Design development renderings + Animations

Douglas Elliman Development

Marketing

The Chatsworth Renovation

Luxury Residential

New York, NY

Opened Fall 2016

14 Final marketing images in collaboration with March

2013

Mack Scogin Merrill Elam

Architects

A Gathering Place

Park amenities for a 64 acre park along the Arkansas River

Tulsa, OK

Opening Summer 2019

50+ Design development images

INGRAO

The Riverhouse

62,000 sq. ft. private residence virtual test-fit for marketing. New York, NY

Summer 2013

12 Marketing images for the ultra luxury residence in collaboration with March

2012

Zaha Hadid Architects

One Thousand Museum

Miami, FL

Opening Summer 2019

Marketing animation with Michael Klausmeier

Gehry Partners LLP

National Art Museum of China

Beijing, China

Competition

Competition Submission: Fall 2012

6 Concept images in collaboration with March

Princeton University Campus

Master Plan:

Michael Van Valkenburgh, Steven Holl Architects, Rick Joy Architects

Princeton, NJ

Fall 2012

8 Concept images in collaboration with March

2011

Mack Scogin Merrill Elam

Architects

Kaoshiung Maritime Cultural & Popular Music Center

Kaoshiung, Taiwan

International Competition

Shortlisted Finalist

Competition Submission: Winter 2011

25 Concept design images

2010

Mack Scogin Merrill Elam

Architects

Museum of the Second World War

International Competition

Competition Submission: Summer

2009

20 Concept Images + animation

2009

Mack Scogin Merrill Elam

Architects

Gates Center for Computer Science

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA

Opened Summer 2009

300+ Design development images +

360 VR images

2006

Mack Scogin Merrill Elam

Architects

Yale Health Center

New Haven, CT

First Place

Invited Competition Submission:

2006

Opened Summer 2010

50+ Design development images

2005

Weiss Manfredi Architects

Olympic Sculpture Park

Seattle, WA

Opened Spring 2006

Commissioned animationMoMA Groundswell Exhibition

Allied Works

Seattle Art Museum

Seattle, WA

Opened Spring 2007

6 Concept images + animation

Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa/ SANAA

The Louvre Lens

Lens, France

First Place

Invited Competition Submission: 2012

Opened Winter 2012

12 Concept design images + animation

Mack Scogin Merrill Elam

Architects

Allston Campus

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA

Invited Competition Submission: 2005

Opened Spring 2008

15+ Concept design images

2004

Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa/ SANAA

The New Museum

New York, NY

Opened Winter 2006

6 Concept design images + animation

Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Lincoln Center

New York, NY

Opened Fall 2012

10+ Concept design images + animation

Mack Scogin Merrill Elam

Architects

United States Courthouse

Austin, TX

Opened Winter 2012

100+ Design development images + animation

Allied Works

Museum of Art and Design

New York, NY

Opened Spring 2008

12 Concept design images + animation

Allied Works

Museum of Art

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI

Opened Spring 2009

6 Design development images + animation

2002

Preston Scott Cohen

Tel Aviv Museum of Art

Tel Aviv, Israel

First Place

Invited Competition Submission: Fall 2002

Concept images for competition entry

Preston Scott Cohen

Toroidal ArchitectureThomas Erben Gallery

New York, NY

Winter 2001-2002

12 Concept images for permanent collection

2001

Preston Scott Cohen

Eyebeam Atelier Museum

New York, NY

Short-listed Finalist

Competition Submission: Winter

2002

15 Concept design images + animation

2000

Michael Maltzan Architecture

Kidspace Children’s Museum

Pasadena, CA

Opened Spring 2005

4 Design development images + animation

1999

Preston Scott Cohen

Torus House

2003

Mack Scogin Merrill Elam

Architects

Barnard College, Nexus Building

New York, NY

Invited Competition

MoMA Unprivate House Exhibition

Summer 1999

Concept images for MoMA permanent collection

READY TO RENDER?

Q: What do I need to get started?

A: Drawings, a 3d model, or simply an idea we can run with.

Q: Anything else?

A: Request a discovery call.

We’ll discuss the following:

1. What design stage is the project?

2. When should we deliver final images?

3. Describe the look-and-feel of the project, the culture of the site and the time of day you’re most interested in representing.

4. Who is going to see the work?

5. How will the work be presented to the audience?

6. What is your budget?

7. When will you be ready to deliver materials?

Re:Play Destinations

Ascent at the Phoenician

A SYMPHONY OF WOOD & METAL

The Ascent development team enlisted Bulthaup as the exclusive designer and supplier of the luxurious kitchens found in all of the residences. Tasked with faithfully reproducing the high end designs, the MOLT team worked through numerous iterations with the design team, nailing the configuration, fit and finish of the kitchens. Buyers are encouraged to work directly with Bulthaup to further customize the kitchen to their own specification.

Re:Play Destination | Ascent at the Phoenician

Architecture | Nelson Partners

Interiors | Vallone

Landscape | Floor Associates

INDOOR/OUTDOOR LIVING

Outdoor fireplaces, private patio gardens and large sliding doors connect the indoor and outdoor spaces and encourage a seamless flow for residents. We create layers of furniture, accessories and light to enliven the spaces, providing good spacial sequencing and suggestion of how the spaces should live and feel.

Re:Play Destination | Ascent at the Phoenician

Architecture | Nelson Partners

Interiors | Vallone

Landscape | Floor Associates

Re:Play Destination | Ascent at the Phoenician

Architecture | Nelson Partners

Interiors | Vallone

Landscape | Floor Associates

Re:Play Destination | Mountain Club

Architecture | Nelson Partners

Interiors | Vallone

Landscape | Floor Associates

COMPETITION ENTRY

The visualization for the Memorial to the Victims of the 1871 Chinese Massacre took place over a two week period in January, 2023. The project is currently a finalist awaiting the winning announcement from the design jury. Once the final site

photography was received from the client, the final images to be camera and light matched were selected. The result is a stunning combination of design excellence and high quality execution of the rendered and composited images.

Figure.Office x Studio.Jih | Memorial to the Victims of the 1871 Chinese Massacre

Above Image | Figure.Office x Studio.Jih

Re:Play Destination | Alcove at Keystone Architecture | DTJ Design Interiors | Unscripted Interiors

PRECISELY CRAFTED SPACES

Mill District represents a design synergy between an AD100 award winning architecture firm, a 3-Michelin Star restaurant, inn and farm, an award winning creative agency and MOLT Studios; culminating into a marketing campaign that is timeless and enduring.

Re:Play Destination | Mill District

Architecture | Olson Kundig

Interiors | Single Thread

Creative | StoryDriven

Re:Play Destination | Mill District

Architecture | Olson Kundig

Interiors | Single Thread

Creative | StoryDriven

Embarking on a remarkable journey, the Mill District x MOLT collaboration was born out of our enduring partnership with Olson Kundig. In 2020, upon Olson Kundig’s recommendation, StoryDriven introduced MOLT to Re:Play Destinations, the project’s visionary develop. From day one, our teams faced the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic and its impact on the collaborative process of image-making. Undeterred, we asked ourselves: How do we craft world-class visuals for a specific site without being able to visit it in person?

Embracing the challenge, we forged new working relationships and engaged local creatives (Kim Carroll Creative) for film and photography. With these assets in place, our integrated model of image-making would commence. In 2020, we began what is slated to be an 8-year engagement with the Re:Play team to develop marketing assets for this multi-phased project. Despite obstacles, our collaboration with the marketing team has yielded extraordinary results: exceptionally high luxury real estate click-through rates and a productive sales campaign.

CASE STUDY

Phase 1: Canopy Residences

Static Images: 38 Cinegraphs: 6

Animation: 1

PROJECT KICK-OFF DATA & INSPIRATION

Prior to the initial meeting we’ll send a request for information including material specs, drawings, 3d models, and inspirational imagery. Our team pours over the information, familiarizing ourselves with the project documents and forming some initial thoughts on the trajectory of the production pipeline - phasing, priorities, missing information and precedents

Design data delivery: Revit model, landscape plans, furniture specs, material specs and reference photography.

Inspiration from all parties: Images depicting lighting conditions, landscape, composition, accessories, art, materiality, and entourage.

DIGITIZATION OF PHYSICAL SAMPLES

Material Development - Ideally, early in the project, we are able to gather physical samples of the principal materials of the project. We’ll photograph the materials under a known color temperature of light and use the photographs as reference for shader development and color grading.

Interior material palette - dark scheme Mill District

INTERACTIVE CLIENT COMMUNICATION

In addition to our formal reviews, we use Miro as a digital whiteboard for client communication. Your team has access to the boards to upload inspiration, material photography, drawings, sketches, and specs. Moreover, everyone with access to the project will see draft images and be able to add comments throughout the project development.

IMPROVISATION A REMOTE SITE VISIT VIA DRONE

Improvised remote site visit | Screenshots from our call with Kim Carroll

Kim Carroll Creative via video call:

In the early days of our orientation to the Healdsburg project site and for reasons related to the pandemic shutting down non-essential travel, Kim was able to tour our team through the site via drone. While

piloting the drone, he positioned his phone, with a live Zoom call, such that we could see the live feed of the drone camera. The video feed and Kim’s narration combined with the telemetry data from the drone gave us a great sense of the heights of the

heritage Redwoods on the site. Kim subsequently captured a series of 360 spherical images from the elevations of each level of the building. We utilized these captures for reflection environments and background photography throughout the project.

Top: Site layout for the deployment of 3d plants

Right: Recipe for ground cover plantings

Below: Planting reference, 3d digital models, landscape concept

PLANNING THE PLANTINGS

Our team is obsessed with landscape and plantings. To satiate our inner landscaper, we embark on extensive research of the horticulture of the site and plant species. This work ensures the resulting plantings in our digital deliverables are accurate in scale, texture, color and seasonality.

GROUND COVER

PAINTING WITH LIGHT

Once an image is rendered in its raw state, the Corona Image Editor (CIE) enables massive flexibility in the final light levels, affording us an opportunity to provide either a variety of lighting solutions or to pull the light levels down to the LOG profile. The second ensures ultimate latitude in our color grading environment, DaVinci Resolve. We often jump on a video conference with the project team to explore lighting refinement in real time, accelerating the process by way of eliminating the need to another email thread discussing the importance of key to fill and color temperature.

Upper Left: Corona image editor

Top right: Canopy hero image

Bottom row: Lighting precedents

CLIENT ORIENTED COMMUNICATION

Material Development: In an ideal scenario, we initiate the project with the collection of physical samples representative of the project’s key materials. This enables us to meticulously photograph the materials under a carefully controlled color temperature. These photographs then serve as a guide for the development of shaders and color grading, ensuring the utmost fidelity to the original materials in our renderings.

SIMULATION | PARTICLE SYSTEMS

Our animation work is born of a love for the cinematic movement found in real world film making. Camera shake and subtle undulating movements are evident in even the most stabilized of footage. To achieve this level of realism in our work, Craft Director Studio is used to imbue our virtual camera work with simulated camera shake and fluid but natural movement.

Render in scene (Fire)

Render in scene

Analysis, effort and patience is a must when simulating real world elements such as fire and water. The pipeline we find most effective for creating both static and animated content utilizes advanced particle simulation through Phoenix FD. These simulations, once dialed in provide physically accurate flame and fluid dynamics.

Particle Simulation (Fire)Particle Simulation (Fluid)

Simulation Preview (Fluid)

(Fluid)

Simulation Preview (Fire)

Left: Craft Director Studio

Right: Chaos Phoenix FD

ANIMATION STORYBOARDING & FEEDBACK

Similar to our static image production work flow, animation analysis and storyboarding is completed in a client facing digital whiteboard, Miro. Film and/ or animation analysis of precedents affords us a better understanding of the cadence and story arc that has been deployed to create the precedent work. Using this information, we can jump-start the design of the animation, using a similar language between our design team and you, the client.

Upper left: Precedent analysis

Upper right: Storyboarding

Lower: Syncing the audio track with the final animation

NON-DESTRUCTIVE COLOR CORRECTION

Upper: DaVinci Resolve color panel/masking cabinets

Lower: Comparison - Log Image vs. Color graded result

Borrowing from professional color artists, we’ve adopted the parametric color grading tools from DaVinci Resolve. This is a non-destructive, real time color grading software and hardware. The interface is a set of three wheels similar to what a DJ would use for mixing electronic music. In our case, instead of mixing music, we mix red, green and blue through vector scopes and wave parades to achieve a natural tonality to the images, reinforcing a photographic appearance.

These powerful tools also allow the selection and masking of scene elements through luminance, hue, saturation, and RGB masks making it an ideal solution for post render changes to the color of any individual element in the scene.

Log

Graded

Graded

PROJECT DELIVERY

In the intricate blend of precision and realism, our creations are both engaging and flexible, easily transitioning between digital, print, and cutting-edge VR mediums. Our methodology evolves congruously with the changing visions of our partners. A journey with us often sees the transformation of simple web-based images into grandiose print formats and visually arresting site hoardings, or the strategic segmentation of comprehensive animations into bite-sized, yet impactful teaser content for social media platforms.

A particularly rewarding aspect of our work is the creation of immersive VR experiences. Here, we often find ourselves as the pioneer explorers of these freshly minted digital “spaces”, offering an exciting prospect for both us and our partners.

This portfolio serves as a testament to our profound passion for our craft and the robust, warm relationships we’ve cultivated with our clients. Many of these professional associations have bloomed into friendships, a testament to the shared creative journeys we’ve embarked upon.

We are thrilled at the prospect of working with you, collaboratively transforming your visions into more potent and dynamic visual narratives in a nurturing, efficient creative environment. We express our gratitude for considering us as your partners in this exciting endeavour.

Sincerely,

Your friends at MOLT Studios.

DELIVERABLES REAL ESTATE MARKETING

Our static image deliverables are rendered at 7,000 pixels in the longest dimension. Images up to 15,000 pixels are routinely created for specific print and advertising requirements including professional publications, large format hoarding and sales office assets.

This Page: Pictured above is a variety of deliverables for the sales program created for the Ascent at the Phoenician development in Scottsdale, AZ.

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE A SYNERGY OF THE PHYSICAL & DIGITAL

The creations we produce frequently exist side-by-side with tangible prototypes, bolstering the architectural lexicon inherent to the project. Our clients place their trust in our proficiency to emulate the aesthetic and ambiance of the physical entity, using digital renderings of the available spaces. When the line between the architecture and the rendered image becomes blurred to the point of being virtually indistinguishable, it signifies the successful culmination of our endeavour - these instances serve as proud testimonials to the expertise and dedication of our artistic team.

This Page: The Mill District site hoarding and pedestal placards adorn the site during construction.

Upper Left: Mill District sales office and showroom complete with a physical mock-up of a Mandicasa kitchen and material board portraying the material options.

Lower Left: The print brochure for the Canopy Residences sales campaign, 2023.