by Jeff Serbin | May 14, 2014 | Architectural Planning, Architecture, Blog, Graphics, Planning, Uncategorized
As architects, our virtual world we design eventually becomes a reality. At least that is what our intentions are when designing the built environment (buildings). We have many numerous tools, such as complex computer programs like REVIT, a 3dimensional modeling program more difficult to fly than a 777 Boeing airplane OR Sketchup, equivalent to hopping on the neighbors bike for the first time and going for a joy ride. Whatever tool is your fancy, we can develop ideas into a virtual reality.
REVIT – Center for the Arts
About 10 years ago, I stumbled across TV glasses. Skymall made it mainstream or so it tried, but the cost of the glasses were outside the reach of many. It gave opportunity to immerse oneself into a world of movies or tv with little periphery distraction. It’s displays however were still like watching a tv set, not following the motion of your head. I thought it would be a cool idea to take this technology and use it somehow to present architectural ideas, but it was too premature.
VIRTUAL IMMERSION
Fast Forward 2012, Oculus Rift is developed, eventually purchased on March 25, 2014 by Facebook for 2 billion dollars to develop further for gaming platforms and other yet to be explored uses. It contains LCD screens and 3-axis gyros, accelerometers and magnetometers to track head movement. This allows the user to look around virtual worlds.
ARCHITECTS VIRTUAL WORLD
As an Architect, I have dreamed up scenario’s in which I could utilize a technology such as this to present my ideas. Imagine developing designs in 3dimensions and incorporating this into a world that is becoming more digitized (Google Streets). What if we could join the two together into a virtual presentation.
Imagine walking down a virtual street while a designer presents before and after views of the streetscape. This would enable a designer to express their ideas with more reality.
Before Image
After remodel image
This could further be enhanced by entering a 3dimensional virtual world of a building, highlighting the spaces to get a sense of the spatial relationships. I envision this not in an exact replica of reality, but more in a conceptual stage to convey ones ideas. I feel that is has to be simple and affordable so designers can incorporate this into their projects. Having to use someone who specializes only in creating virtual reality presentations will only stunt the creativity process. Here is just one example of my virtual world, created in sketchup without holding onto the handlebars.
Now imagine if YOU could control where you walked and what direction you were looking in.
Remember, this is not reality, but virtual reality.
I am excited what the future has in store, are you?
by Jeff Serbin | May 6, 2014 | Architectural Planning, Architecture, Blog, Graphics, Uncategorized
Architects depend on presentation to convey their ideas to their clients. Presentations come in many facets, from hand drawn images on paper, computer generated drawings shown on a screen and physical models.
Watercolor of Buckeye Park and Ride
LACMA – Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Peter Zumthor’s Design Model
THE VIRTUAL WORLD
But what we really want is virtual reality to go places that are developed in our minds yet not here. Architects have been creating virtual reality in their sketchbooks and drawings boards for ages but today we are even closer to further immerse ourselves into the worlds we create.
GAMING
Computer gaming has shown us that we can escape into the various worlds. Some games I have seen are fairly detailed and there are examples that are highly fantasy.
HOLOGRAPHIC VIRTUAL REALITY
As movies develop further and video becomes more advanced, people are developing ways to bring a virtual reality into a new dimension. Just check out what the people at AV Solutions have developed to create this holographic virtual world. www.avconcepts.com
DRAWING BY HAND
The artfulness of hand drawn images are becoming a thing of the past. We used to pride ourselves in our office that we still produced water color images of our designs, however there has been a shift to put the pencil down and really focus on what technology can do for us.
Every so often, I see an article in an architectural magazine with a STARCHITECT stating that the art of hand drawings is being lost to the computer, but if you notice they are usually 80+ years old. They never learned the art of the computer. I don’t believe they are wrong, just right for themselves. One must realize that technology is just another tool for the modern architect to convey their designs.
“The computer is wonderful for certain things, but it is hard for your mind and hand to work together unless you continue to draw … they don’t have to be beautiful drawings, just get it down. It is your language, you cannot give it up” Michael Graves
DRAWING BY COMPUTER
If you grew up using DRAWSOMETHING2, imagine how good you would be creating those images once only possible with pen, pencil or brush. You can now “let your fingers do the walking”, (another quote from past time) and create master pieces. I’ve seen some amazing renderings watching my kids play DRAWSOMETHING2.
As the STARCHITECT’S are getting younger and developing their careers during the computer age, I believe we will hear less of the grumbling about the pencil being lost and more about embracing new ways to present our ideas.
To be continued …………………………………….
