Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. Applications of virtual reality can include entertainment (i.e. gaming) and educational purposes (i.e. medical or military training). Other, distinct types of VR style technology include augmented reality and mixed reality.

VR technology has so much potential for architects and designers. From initial design mock-ups, to project collaboration, through to the finishing touches that make a building design go from good to great, virtual reality possesses the capability to really sell an idea better than any other medium.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, one of the greatest challenges faced by architects is working with a client to convince them that a design works, before receiving valuable — and workable — feedback that can be integrated into a finished design.

And the bigger the project, the more stakeholders it will inevitably involve. It’s unlikely that there will be one single decision maker; rather, multiple people will be asked for their input on various aspects of a building’s design. Getting all these people into a single room to discuss these design decisions can be incredibly difficult, not to mention time consuming and inefficient.

Floor plans, 3D renderings, and models are often used to convey an idea for a particular space within a design, but even these approaches a staple of architectural design can fail to effectively communicate ideas with clients.