One of our key responsibilities as designers is to communicate. Architectural outputs are consumed by a broad range of audiences, from the client to stakeholders and the general public, and the challenge is always to communicate the message clearly – the image is the vehicle to put the point across. We enjoy this process – of choosing the medium and considering how to present it – one of our strengths as a practice is providing the right visual information for the right audience, at the right time.
Virtual-reality, whilst not new, is still relatively underused in architecture – but we feel the potential to support our work as communicators is huge.
Take our project LCV, for example – a 1000-home masterplan set around an extensive new network of parklets and public realm. The proposals are modelled in full in Revit, making it perfect to explore virtually. Using stereo (360°) parnoramic exports from the model, we can stitch together a gallery, creating a Google Streetview-style tour around the site, transporting the viewer between hotspots within the site, viewable in your browser, on the phone, and using a VR headset.
The obvious advantage is allowing clients, building users and the public the opportunity to experience the proposals in a far more immersive way. It can sell a proposal, generate interest and captivate an audience.
We, however, believe the potential is greater than this.