Summary for Architecture & Interiors
This category represents a high-water mark for AI image generation, with models displaying exceptional capability in rendering complex lighting and materials. GPT Image 1.5 and ChatGPT 4o emerged as the leaders for technical accuracy, particularly in difficult "cutaway" and diagrammatic prompts where other models struggled with gibberish text. Flux 2 Pro and Seedream 4.5 dominated in photorealism and texture rendering.
Key Findings:
- Photorealism is Mature: Standard interior shots like the Scandinavian Living Room saw nearly universal high scores (9/10), indicating this use case is effectively solved for most top-tier models.
- The "Diagram Problem": While artistic rendering is strong, technical illustrations (prompts 103 and 106) caused significant failures for models like Midjourney v7 and Flux 1.1 Pro Ultra due to the inclusion of nonsensical text labels.
- Lighting Mastery: The ability to render complex lighting, such as colored patterns in the Gothic Cathedral or reflections in the Glass Skybridge, distinguished the elite models from the mid-tier performers.
Patterns and Performance Trends
1. The Divide Between Art and Engineering
A clear trend emerged separating models into "Artists" and "Architects."
- The Architects: Models like GPT Image 1.5 and Recraft V3 excelled at structural logic. In the Underground Bunker prompt, GPT Image 1.5 achieved a rare 9/10 by producing legible, accurate text labels and logical room layouts, whereas others produced atmospheric but nonsensical layouts.
- The Artists: Midjourney V6.1 and Flux 2 Pro consistently produced the most visually arresting images with superior lighting (e.g., the Roman Bathhouse), but occasionally prioritized aesthetics over strict prompt adherence, such as adding unrequested elements or struggling with specific architectural constraints like "isometric projection."
2. Material Physics and Lighting
The rendering of materials has reached a new peak. The Glass Skybridge prompt tested transparency and reflection. Seedream 4.0 and MiniMax Image-01 delivered exceptional results here, correctly rendering the vertigo-inducing view through a glass floor while maintaining realistic surface reflections. Weaker models tended to make the glass opaque or mirrored, failing the physics test.
3. Style Adaptation
The Modernist Desert Home prompt challenged models to transplant a specific style (Frank Lloyd Wright) into a new biome. Flux 2 Pro demonstrated the best "architectural imagination," perfectly blending organic architecture with red rock geology. Some models failed to adapt the landscape, placing the house in a forest despite the "desert" instruction.
4. Text & Artifacts
A recurring failure mode in this category is the spontaneous generation of pseudo-text. In prompts asking for "drawings" or "diagrams" (Machiya Cutaway), models like Flux 1.1 Pro Ultra often ruined otherwise good images with illegible scribbles, resulting in heavy score penalties. Models that offer specific "Vector" or "Illustration" modes (like Recraft) generally handled this better.
Best Model Recommendations by Scenario
🏡 Photorealistic Interiors & Real Estate
Best Models: ChatGPT 4o, Imagen 4.0 Ultra, Flux 2 Pro
For standard interior design visualization, these models offer flawless lighting, texture, and furniture layout. They excel at prompts like Scandinavian Living Room and Moroccan Riad, delivering images indistinguishable from high-end photography.
📐 Technical Illustration & Diagrams
Best Models: GPT Image 1.5, Recraft V3
When the task involves cross-sections, isometrics, or labeled diagrams (e.g., Underground Bunker, Machiya Cutaway), these are the only models that consistently avoid gibberish artifacts and maintain structural logic. GPT Image 1.5 is particularly notable for its ability to generate correct text labels.
🏛️ Historical & Atmospheric Architecture
Best Models: Seedream 4.5, Midjourney V6.1, Reve Image
For scenes requiring mood, age, and atmosphere—such as the steam-filled Roman Bathhouse or the light-drenched Gothic Cathedral—these models excel at volumetric lighting and weathering details, creating an emotional connection rather than just a blueprint.
🚀 Futuristic & Conceptual Design
Best Models: Nano Banana Pro, Ideogram 3.0
For speculative architecture like the Futuristic Space Habitat, these models balance creative geometry (curved walls, zero-g environments) with believable textures, avoiding the "plastic" look common in sci-fi renders.
