Exterior prompts live or die on three things: cladding, sky and context. Get those right and even a plain massing model reads as a real building; get them wrong and the most refined geometry looks like a game asset.
These prompts are written so the building you uploaded stays exactly as designed — same footprint, same openings, same roof — while materials, weather and surroundings are generated around it.
Copy-ready AI prompt
contemporary villa exterior, white through-coloured render, vertical oak cladding accents, black slim window frames, flat roof with thin edge, mature olive trees, gravel driveway, late afternoon sun with long shadows
The most requested residential look worldwide.
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residential exterior, charred shou sugi ban timber cladding, black metal standing seam roof, large glazed openings, wild grass landscaping, overcast soft light, nordic atmosphere
Overcast light keeps dark cladding from going flat.
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urban infill building facade, handmade buff brick in stack bond, deep window reveals, bronze anodised frames, ground floor in dark render, narrow street context, soft morning light
Deep reveals are what make brick read as real.
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office building exterior, board-formed concrete, floor-to-ceiling glazing with fritted pattern, recessed entrance canopy, planted forecourt, bright overcast sky, crisp modern detailing
Fritting adds realism to large glass areas.
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coastal mediterranean house, lime-washed white walls, timber shutters in faded blue, terracotta pantile roof, bougainvillea, stone terrace, strong midday sun, deep shadows
Strong sun is correct for this climate — do not soften it.
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mid-rise residential building, exposed CLT structure with timber balconies, aluminium railings, green roof, street trees, soft diffused daylight, sustainable architecture atmosphere
Good for sustainability-led planning submissions.
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retail ground floor frontage, dark green painted steel shopfront, large single-pane glazing, brass signage, stone paving, people walking, early evening with interior lights on
Evening + lit interior is the strongest retail visual.
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contemporary alpine chalet, stone base, weathered larch cladding above, deep roof overhangs, panoramic glazing, snow on ground, cold blue dusk with warm interior glow
The warm/cold contrast sells the whole image.
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desert modern residence, rammed earth walls, deep shaded terraces, bronze window frames, cactus and gravel landscaping, harsh clear light, dramatic shadows
Rammed earth is one of the strongest material keywords.
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contemporary school building exterior, light buff brick, coloured aluminium window surrounds, generous canopy, open playground, children in the distance, bright but soft daylight
Civic work needs people in frame to read at scale.
Try a prompt on your own exterior & facade project
Upload your photo, sketch or model view, paste a prompt, render in about 30 seconds. 100 free credits every month, no credit card.
The cladding system, window frame colour, roof treatment, immediate landscaping and a specific light condition. Those five together carry most of the realism. Because the AI preserves your uploaded geometry, you do not need to describe the building form itself.
Overcast light flatters materials and is more forgiving, which is why it dominates real architectural photography. Direct sun creates drama and strong shadows but exposes weak geometry. Choose deliberately rather than leaving it unstated.
Upload the view and describe only surfaces, light and context. Architectural AI locks the footprint, openings and roof form from your image — the prompt controls what those surfaces are made of, not where they are.
Yes, and this is the highest-value use. Run the same view with three different cladding sentences to compare timber, brick and render side by side before specifying.