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This afternoon I had a chance to catch up with RL Architects member Rakeem Buaku, an avatar representing Dedato, an architecture studio from Amsterdam. Rakeem is building a model of his studio’s new headquarters inside of Second Life, and plans to use the virtual model as a tool for promoting and presenting the real life project.
Currently, the project consists of a large skeletal concrete frame, as well as a hint of the fenestration chassis that will envelope at least part of the structure. Site entourage, such as roadways, waterfront and landscaping are also starting to take shape. The Second Life site is nearly identical to the real life site, which is an essential ingredient in telling this building’s story, since it is perched on a piece of waterfront property; the views of which played an obvious role in developing the massing and orientation of the project.
While his build already shares status with aloft’s hotel as being among the most significant projects stemming from RL architectural practice, Rakeem has even bigger plans for Second Life. His methodology extends beyond merely replicating his studio’s real-world designs. He suggests that the typical RL to SL trajectory could stand to be reversed. By designing projects in Second Life and translating those models into real-world designs, he takes advantage of the simplicity of the in-world tools and could enable clients to have a more participatory role in the schematic design process.
As we toured his soon-to-be new office building, we wondered why more architects aren’t using Second Life as a professional tool. Perhaps most architects are too conservative? Perhaps there are too many challenges? Too much to learn? Perhaps some struggle with spending so much time playing a game? While each of these points may have validity, I think any architect exploring Second Life would agree that the potential is there, and that it will only be a matter of time before this kind of environment becomes commonplace in our practice.
Rakeem Buaku isn’t going to wait for a perfect platform. In the meantime, his studio’s clients will enjoy an unprecedented level of immersion and visualization, and his firm will likely enjoy the marketability and publicity the cutting edge affords.
Stay tuned for progress posts!
