diff --git a/loopstructural/3d_icon.png b/loopstructural/3d_icon.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc2bc71
Binary files /dev/null and b/loopstructural/3d_icon.png differ
diff --git a/loopstructural/gui/dlg_settings.py b/loopstructural/gui/dlg_settings.py
index 5f7bef2..c4caaaf 100644
--- a/loopstructural/gui/dlg_settings.py
+++ b/loopstructural/gui/dlg_settings.py
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ def apply(self):
 
         # misc
         settings.debug_mode = self.opt_debug.isChecked()
+        settings.separate_dock_widgets = self.opt_separate_dock_widgets.isChecked()
         settings.interpolator_nelements = self.n_elements_spin_box.value()
         settings.interpolator_npw = self.npw_spin_box.value()
         settings.interpolator_cpw = self.cpw_spin_box.value()
@@ -106,6 +107,7 @@ def load_settings(self):
 
         # global
         self.opt_debug.setChecked(settings.debug_mode)
+        self.opt_separate_dock_widgets.setChecked(settings.separate_dock_widgets)
         self.lbl_version_saved_value.setText(settings.version)
         # self.interpolator_type_combo.setCurrentText(settings.interpolator_type)
         self.n_elements_spin_box.setValue(settings.interpolator_nelements)
diff --git a/loopstructural/gui/dlg_settings.ui b/loopstructural/gui/dlg_settings.ui
index b910f9f..edba4d3 100644
--- a/loopstructural/gui/dlg_settings.ui
+++ b/loopstructural/gui/dlg_settings.ui
@@ -226,6 +226,37 @@
         </property>
        </widget>
       </item>
+      <item row="2" column="0" colspan="2">
+       <widget class="QCheckBox" name="opt_separate_dock_widgets">
+        <property name="minimumSize">
+         <size>
+          <width>0</width>
+          <height>25</height>
+         </size>
+        </property>
+        <property name="maximumSize">
+         <size>
+          <width>16777215</width>
+          <height>30</height>
+         </size>
+        </property>
+        <property name="toolTip">
+         <string>Show modelling and visualisation in separate dock widgets.</string>
+        </property>
+        <property name="autoFillBackground">
+         <bool>true</bool>
+        </property>
+        <property name="locale">
+         <locale language="English" country="UnitedStates"/>
+        </property>
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>Use separate dock widgets for modelling and visualisation</string>
+        </property>
+        <property name="tristate">
+         <bool>false</bool>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
       <item row="0" column="1">
        <widget class="QPushButton" name="btn_report">
         <property name="minimumSize">
diff --git a/loopstructural/gui/loop_widget.py b/loopstructural/gui/loop_widget.py
index a0fb574..bf78f50 100644
--- a/loopstructural/gui/loop_widget.py
+++ b/loopstructural/gui/loop_widget.py
@@ -51,3 +51,23 @@ def __init__(
         )
         tabWidget.addTab(self.modelling_widget, "Modelling")
         tabWidget.addTab(self.visualisation_widget, "Visualisation")
+
+    def get_modelling_widget(self):
+        """Return the modelling widget instance.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        ModellingWidget
+            The modelling widget.
+        """
+        return self.modelling_widget
+
+    def get_visualisation_widget(self):
+        """Return the visualisation widget instance.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        VisualisationWidget
+            The visualisation widget.
+        """
+        return self.visualisation_widget
diff --git a/loopstructural/plugin_main.py b/loopstructural/plugin_main.py
index 12bbd18..795eef1 100644
--- a/loopstructural/plugin_main.py
+++ b/loopstructural/plugin_main.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 from loopstructural.gui.loop_widget import LoopWidget
 from loopstructural.main.data_manager import ModellingDataManager
 from loopstructural.main.model_manager import GeologicalModelManager
-from loopstructural.toolbelt import PlgLogger
+from loopstructural.toolbelt import PlgLogger, PlgOptionsManager
 
 # ############################################################################
 # ########## Classes ###############
@@ -127,9 +127,13 @@ def initGui(self):
             self.tr("LoopStructural Modelling"),
             self.iface.mainWindow(),
         )
+        self.action_visualisation = QAction(
+            QIcon(os.path.dirname(__file__) + "/3D_icon.png"),
+            self.tr("LoopStructural Visualisation"),
+            self.iface.mainWindow(),
+        )
 
         self.toolbar.addAction(self.action_modelling)
-
         # -- Menu
         self.iface.addPluginToMenu(__title__, self.action_settings)
         self.iface.addPluginToMenu(__title__, self.action_help)
@@ -150,36 +154,102 @@ def initGui(self):
         self.iface.pluginHelpMenu().addAction(self.action_help_plugin_menu_documentation)
 
         ## --- dock widget
-        self.loop_dockwidget = QDockWidget(self.tr("Loop"), self.iface.mainWindow())
-        self.loop_widget = LoopWidget(
-            self.iface.mainWindow(),
-            mapCanvas=self.iface.mapCanvas(),
-            logger=self.log,
-            data_manager=self.data_manager,
-            model_manager=self.model_manager,
-        )
+        # Get the setting for separate dock widgets
+        settings = PlgOptionsManager.get_plg_settings()
+
+        if settings.separate_dock_widgets:
+            # Create separate dock widgets for modelling and visualisation
+            self.loop_widget = LoopWidget(
+                self.iface.mainWindow(),
+                mapCanvas=self.iface.mapCanvas(),
+                logger=self.log,
+                data_manager=self.data_manager,
+                model_manager=self.model_manager,
+            )
+            self.toolbar.addAction(self.action_visualisation)
 
-        self.loop_dockwidget.setWidget(self.loop_widget)
-        self.iface.addDockWidget(Qt.RightDockWidgetArea, self.loop_dockwidget)
-        right_docks = [
-            d
-            for d in self.iface.mainWindow().findChildren(QDockWidget)
-            if self.iface.mainWindow().dockWidgetArea(d) == Qt.RightDockWidgetArea
-        ]
-        # If there are other dock widgets, tab this one with the first one found
-        if right_docks:
-            for dock in right_docks:
-                if dock != self.loop_dockwidget:
-                    self.iface.mainWindow().tabifyDockWidget(dock, self.loop_dockwidget)
-                    # Optionally, bring your plugin tab to the front
-                    self.loop_dockwidget.raise_()
-                    break
-        self.loop_dockwidget.show()
-
-        self.loop_dockwidget.close()
-
-        # -- Connect actions
-        self.action_modelling.triggered.connect(self.loop_dockwidget.toggleViewAction().trigger)
+            # Create modelling dock
+            self.modelling_dockwidget = QDockWidget(
+                self.tr("Loop - Modelling"), self.iface.mainWindow()
+            )
+            self.modelling_dockwidget.setWidget(self.loop_widget.get_modelling_widget())
+            self.iface.addDockWidget(Qt.RightDockWidgetArea, self.modelling_dockwidget)
+
+            # Create visualisation dock
+            self.visualisation_dockwidget = QDockWidget(
+                self.tr("Loop - Visualisation"), self.iface.mainWindow()
+            )
+            self.visualisation_dockwidget.setWidget(self.loop_widget.get_visualisation_widget())
+            self.iface.addDockWidget(Qt.RightDockWidgetArea, self.visualisation_dockwidget)
+
+            # Tab them with other right docks if available
+            right_docks = [
+                d
+                for d in self.iface.mainWindow().findChildren(QDockWidget)
+                if self.iface.mainWindow().dockWidgetArea(d) == Qt.RightDockWidgetArea
+            ]
+            if right_docks:
+                for dock in right_docks:
+                    if dock != self.modelling_dockwidget and dock != self.visualisation_dockwidget:
+                        self.iface.mainWindow().tabifyDockWidget(dock, self.modelling_dockwidget)
+                        self.modelling_dockwidget.raise_()
+                        break
+
+            # Tab visualisation with modelling
+            self.iface.mainWindow().tabifyDockWidget(
+                self.modelling_dockwidget, self.visualisation_dockwidget
+            )
+
+            self.modelling_dockwidget.show()
+            self.visualisation_dockwidget.show()
+            self.modelling_dockwidget.close()
+            self.visualisation_dockwidget.close()
+
+            # Connect action to toggle modelling dock
+            self.action_modelling.triggered.connect(
+                self.modelling_dockwidget.toggleViewAction().trigger
+            )
+            self.action_visualisation.triggered.connect(
+                self.visualisation_dockwidget.toggleViewAction().trigger
+            )
+            # Store reference to main dock as None for unload compatibility
+            self.loop_dockwidget = None
+        else:
+            # Create single dock widget with tabs (default behavior)
+            self.loop_dockwidget = QDockWidget(self.tr("Loop"), self.iface.mainWindow())
+            self.loop_widget = LoopWidget(
+                self.iface.mainWindow(),
+                mapCanvas=self.iface.mapCanvas(),
+                logger=self.log,
+                data_manager=self.data_manager,
+                model_manager=self.model_manager,
+            )
+
+            self.loop_dockwidget.setWidget(self.loop_widget)
+            self.iface.addDockWidget(Qt.RightDockWidgetArea, self.loop_dockwidget)
+            right_docks = [
+                d
+                for d in self.iface.mainWindow().findChildren(QDockWidget)
+                if self.iface.mainWindow().dockWidgetArea(d) == Qt.RightDockWidgetArea
+            ]
+            # If there are other dock widgets, tab this one with the first one found
+            if right_docks:
+                for dock in right_docks:
+                    if dock != self.loop_dockwidget:
+                        self.iface.mainWindow().tabifyDockWidget(dock, self.loop_dockwidget)
+                        # Optionally, bring your plugin tab to the front
+                        self.loop_dockwidget.raise_()
+                        break
+            self.loop_dockwidget.show()
+
+            self.loop_dockwidget.close()
+
+            # -- Connect actions
+            self.action_modelling.triggered.connect(self.loop_dockwidget.toggleViewAction().trigger)
+
+            # Store references to separate docks as None for unload compatibility
+            self.modelling_dockwidget = None
+            self.visualisation_dockwidget = None
 
     def tr(self, message: str) -> str:
         """Translate a string using Qt translation API.
@@ -198,6 +268,17 @@ def tr(self, message: str) -> str:
 
     def unload(self):
         """Clean up when plugin is disabled or uninstalled."""
+        # -- Clean up dock widgets
+        if self.loop_dockwidget:
+            self.iface.removeDockWidget(self.loop_dockwidget)
+            del self.loop_dockwidget
+        if self.modelling_dockwidget:
+            self.iface.removeDockWidget(self.modelling_dockwidget)
+            del self.modelling_dockwidget
+        if self.visualisation_dockwidget:
+            self.iface.removeDockWidget(self.visualisation_dockwidget)
+            del self.visualisation_dockwidget
+
         # -- Clean up menu
         self.iface.removePluginMenu(__title__, self.action_help)
         self.iface.removePluginMenu(__title__, self.action_settings)
diff --git a/loopstructural/toolbelt/preferences.py b/loopstructural/toolbelt/preferences.py
index 108ac87..f40cfd4 100644
--- a/loopstructural/toolbelt/preferences.py
+++ b/loopstructural/toolbelt/preferences.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ class PlgSettingsStructure:
     interpolator_regularisation: float = 1.0
     interpolator_cpw: float = 1.0
     interpolator_npw: float = 1.0
+    separate_dock_widgets: bool = False
 
 
 class PlgOptionsManager:
diff --git a/tests/qgis/test_plg_preferences.py b/tests/qgis/test_plg_preferences.py
index c76ab46..f951749 100644
--- a/tests/qgis/test_plg_preferences.py
+++ b/tests/qgis/test_plg_preferences.py
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ def test_plg_preferences_structure(self):
         self.assertIsInstance(settings.version, str)
         self.assertEqual(settings.version, __version__)
 
+        # dock widgets setting
+        self.assertTrue(hasattr(settings, "separate_dock_widgets"))
+        self.assertIsInstance(settings.separate_dock_widgets, bool)
+        self.assertEqual(settings.separate_dock_widgets, False)
+
 
 # ############################################################################
 # ####### Stand-alone run ########