What’s Your VR + Architecture Strategy?
Virtual Reality, once a curiosity for architectural use, has quickly become an indispensable tool for designing, constructing, developing, and finishing interiors of architectural projects all over the world.
Virtual Reality, once a curiosity for architectural use, has quickly become an indispensable tool for designing, constructing, developing, and finishing interiors of architectural projects all over the world.
Virtual reality, or VR, has experienced rapid growth within architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries over the past 3 years. What started as a curiosity has now become increasingly commonplace in architecture, real estate development, and construction.
Almost three decades before Building Information Modeling (BIM) would go mainstream, the term “Virtual Building” was used in the earliest implementation of BIM through Graphisoft’s ArchiCAD debut in 1987. Since then, the concept hasn’t changed, but visualization technology has advanced to the point where designers, engineers, contractors, and building owners can become so immersed in the virtual building model that they feel as if they’re actually there. Technologies like the Unity3D game engine and the new $300 Oculus Rift virtual reality headset are making it possible.
The next 3 new clients who hire Arch Virtual to create a real-time application of their architectural project will receive the service at a 25% off discounted rate. Additionally, every new project through the end of the year will receive a free upgrade to an additional Oculus Rift compatible application.
Below the fold are some additional points raised by YouTube, Twitter and blog commenters. One additional point I want to make is the distinction between Unity3D best practices for game design vs. best practices for architectural visualization.