Virtual reality finding its place in architecture

Imagine stepping into your dream home before it is even built.

 

Virtual reality (VR) technologies are revolutionising architecture by allowing clients to walk through their future spaces, change details and experience the space before construction. VR bridges the gap between imagination and reality.

 

But this transformation goes beyond aesthetics. VR offers many opportunities for how architects design, refine and communicate their work, and also for architectural learning and public consultation.

 

VR brings clarity to architectural design. While traditional blueprints and 3-D renderings can mainly convey spatial relationships, lighting conditions and material finishes, VR immerses users in a realistic simulation of the space.

 

For clients, this means stepping into their future home or office, feeling its proportions and even adjusting design elements such as wall colours or furniture placements in real time.

 

This level of engagement changes the client and architect dynamic. Clients no longer need to rely on imagination or wait until construction begins to see the results of their decisions. 

 

Instead, VR creates a collaborative environment that minimises misunderstandings and costly post-construction modifications, not only for clients but also for construction teams.

 

The role of VR in promoting sustainability in renovation, demolition and construction is equally powerful. 

 

VR and AR (augmented reality) serve as a valuable tool in green transitioning by allowing design and construction teams to design and optimise buildings while minimising waste and reducing energy consumption.

 

For example, architects can simulate daylight to optimise natural lighting to give clients a feel for spaces that might otherwise have needed to be modified upon completion.

 

Construction teams can use augmented reality to do the same by precisely positioning elements  such as beams, walls and utilities. These processes optimise design and reduce waste during construction.

 

The result  is buildings that are closer to our sustainability goals without compromising on aesthetics or functionality.

One of the most important aspects of VR is its potential to create accessibility and equity in architecture. For architecture students, studying architectural precedents is  essential.

 

However, many of these precedents are often out of reach due to geographic, financial or logistical limitations. 

 

VR offers immersive experiences that allow students to virtually explore architectural precedents from anywhere in the world. 

 

Heritage sites that are at risk due to environmental or human factors can also be digitally preserved and experienced globally through VR.

 

The impact of VR is not confined to the design process; it is reshaping architectural education and training. 

 

Traditionally, architectural students relied on physical models or 2-D drawings to develop their skills and communicate ideas. 

 

VR now immerses students in their designs, enabling them to walk through,  assess spatial relationships and experiment with design decisions in real time.

 

This approach not only enhances their spatial understanding but also equips them to address real-world challenges like sustainability and user-centric design.

 

VR also offers opportunities around public engagement in architecture that could advance inclusion and equity in the design process. 

 

When everyone has the ability to experience and provide input on designs, architecture and urban planning become a collaborative endeavour that reflects diverse perspectives and needs.

 

Architects and planners can simulate cities, enabling communities to understand proposed developments and participate in decision-making processes. 

 

For example, urban renewal projects that implicate large and diverse populations can make use of VR to enable users to experience and interact with the proposed environment before it is built.

 

The impact of VR and extended reality (XR) on architecture and construction goes beyond how buildings are designed and reshapes how people interact with and experience them. 

 

Overall, VR is a powerful tool that different stakeholders can use to design, experience and construct spaces that are more user-centric, sustainable and inclusive.