Building The Future: How VR Is Transforming The Architectural Landscape

All aspects of design development, from plans and 2D drawings to physical models, to 3D models and visualisations, are designed to reinforce the idea of ​​turning an idea into a concrete reality.

Bridging the Gap with Design and Reality

The end user can always compromise on the imagination and the appearance of the product about the model. However, time and trends go by, and technology changes. The emergence of virtual reality is not only a great invention, bridging the gap between design and reality but also increases the importance of architecture.

AR and VR are changing the way designers work. Virtual reality is shaping every phase of construction, such as design thinking, development, real-time design monitoring, construction visualisation, and building information modelling. Augmented reality is enhancing the real world with technology that overlays digital information, creating hybrid computer-generated perceptual information.

Architecture Evolves with VR

According to an article on virtual reality in architecture, 9 out of 20 major architectural firms worldwide use VR for their design work. VR has come a long way over the past few years. Head-mounted displays (HMDs) such as the Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, HTC Vive, Microsoft HoloLens, and Google Cardboard have seen a significant increase in usage during consumer communications and segments.

According to a study conducted by CGarchitect, the use of VR reached 40% in Europe, 21% in the United States, 11% in Asia, and 3% in the Middle East. On the other hand, 43% of global VR users are architectural galleries, 22% are construction firms, and only 4% of interior design firms are listed. The data here clearly shows how VR is taking over the world of architecture, construction, and design over time.

Why Are Designers Using Virtual Reality Technology?

#1 Improved Customer/User Experience

Since one of the key features of a client-facing industry such as architecture is providing a memorable and intuitive user experience, VR helps achieve this through immersive 3D experiences.

These rich, immersive environments give clients a real sense of scale, depth and space, helping them build confidence in the design process and gain a deeper understanding of the concept, which can make better decisions at both ends.

This also helps to plan the necessary business processes and have a clear action plan when implementing and creating projects. Therefore, quick decisions can be avoided for the last time because there is a gap between design and reality. It also increases the ability to communicate ideas about design and concepts more clearly and precise.

The process and design give customers the real meaning of the living space and create a sense of ownership from the beginning of the project. In addition, it sets realistic expectations and directly helps to integrate the experiential value of the site from the promotional point of view.

#2 Working with VR

VR can produce amazing results in terms of team coordination and planning. It provides tools to help all project stakeholders (contractors, engineers, and designers) stay accurate, precise, and more organised. In the past, stakeholders had different understandings of the process, and if designs were just 2D drawings and communicated only via email, things would go wrong.

With the creation of virtual reality in construction, each stakeholder can have a better and deeper understanding of the project. Instant modelling tools can help everyone’s concerns and processes focus on a single system.

Modelling information through VR helps in efficient information processing and includes various types of information. Presenting and developing content in real life has been revolutionized by VR.

#3 Strengthens Clients Relationships

The business impact of virtual reality on infrastructure is groundbreaking. Virtual reality in architecture eliminates physical distance, facilitates cross-border design and reduces the need for physical connections to conduct business.

Tracking design progress and communicating design elements is made much easier by virtual information processing and the connections provided by VR devices. The power of these tools reduces the time required to work on feedback and reflection in the design. Therefore, the convergence of VR is paving the way for construction companies to do business without being constrained by physical boundaries.

How Can Designers Change with VR?

It is now established that VR is the future of design, collaboration, and performance. Many large architectural firms such as Zaha Hadid Architects, Partisans Architecture and Arturo Tedeschi Consulting, are already implementing projects with VR as a standard procedure.

The world’s leading companies have adapted their working style to utilise the benefits of using VR as a fruitful tool. Virtual Reality is an example of technology that can make a big change in a vast range of businesses.

In short

From the conceptual stage to implementation, virtual reality technology helps to organise and optimise the relationships between various spaces, lights, structures and materials used in a project. Therefore, everything virtual in the architecture will produce a faster time, the design will be accessible and useful for everyone.