z.ARCH Magazine (GRPH 221)

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VIRTUAL REALITY

z.ARCH

an architect’s building block

CONTENTS pg1-2

visialize

9 ways to use

pg 3-4

1 INSTA 2 & ARCH VIRTUAL REALITY

“people ignore design that ignores people” - Frank Chimero

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VIRTUAL REALITY & ARCHITECTURE ​ cross the U.S., architecture firms are A beginning to incorporate virtual reality (VR) into their practices at a fast clip.

But, for the VR uninitiate, wrapping one’s head around the technology and what differentiates it from the other technologies that accompany it—like AR (augmented reality) or MR (mixed reality)—can feel overwhelming. Even experts will, confusingly, use these terms interchangeably.

Why? Because of the nature of the technology.

All VR/AR starts at the same place: a model in 3D. VR and AR are both ways of experiencing that model— outside of a screen.

When you use a headset such as the Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive to roam around and interact with a modeled environment, as if you’re inside a video game, that’s VR. Here’s how Recode writer Eric Johnson

explains it: “When VR users look around—or, in more advanced headsets, walk around—their view of that world adjusts the same way it would if they were looking or moving in real reality.” VR is what you may be most familiar with; cheap headsets have become more readily available, and the film industry has made some VR movies already.

Augmented reality is in a more experimental phase. Most folks became conscious of AR thanks to a little app called Pokémon Go, which lets smartphone users “capture” Pokémon that appear (through the lenses of their phone cameras) to inhabit the real world around them.

In contrast to VR, which creates a virtual world, AR superimposes digital objects/imagery onto our physical world, through a smartphone, tablet, or special AR viewer. Both of these technologies exist on a spectrum: Improvements made to virtual reality will almost certainly affect AR, and visa versa.

However, a few firms are now exploring the latent capacity of VR to disrupt the design process itself. The challenge is in great part a technological one. Firms seriously interested in investigating VR have established partnerships with VR software providers (like IrisVR) or even hired software developers themselves. To achieve its weekly VR design critiques, for example, Gensler courted a relationship with the video game technologist Henry Yu. A father tired of the destructive violence of the gaming industr y, Y u

decided he wanted to help build things in the real world instead. His company, Kalloc Studios, developed Fuzor, software that acts like a plug-in for Revit or Rhino, turning 3D models into roamable virtual environments where designers, like gamers, can meet and work together. By building this kind of expertise, some firms think we will revolutionize not only the way we conceptualize designs but also the way our world is physically built and experienced. Today, VR essentially allows designers, clients, and stakeholders to consume models in dynamic new virtual environments.

One by one, individuals can put on VR goggles and experience spaces that only exist digitally as others watch, listen to their reactions, and wait their turn. This implementation of VR technology has already strengthened design outcomes by enhancing strong communication throughout the design process, translating to less risk and stronger confidence in the eventual built product for clients.

Soon, however, with multi-user VR being rapidly developed, VR will do more than just ensure dynamic consumption.

If successfully leveraged, multi-user VR will allow multiple people from around the world to all enter the same virtual spaces together at the same time. In these multi-user environments, users will not be limited to just viewing models and asking questions. They won’t have to take off the goggles, remember their thoughts, and then go sketch new ideas elsewhere. Instead, multi-user VR environments enable true collaborative design; people can discuss, draw, scale, break sections apart and advance the design project in real time. This should allow enhanced communication and increased time for design exploration, ultimately leading to more successful built products.

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INSTAGRAM

HOW TO PRESENT ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN TO THE MASSES

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With over 300 million people posting, liking and commenting on pictures, or simply just viewing and following their favorite accounts every month, it’s easy to see why Instagram has become one of the top social media platforms.

Due to the visual nature of the architecture and design industry, Instagram is the ideal social platform to share professional project photography, office candids, industry trends, general inspiration and ideas.

Appreciating the value of Instagram’s user base is one thing. Creating an account that is engaging, authentic and relevant is another thing.

Here are some quick tips on how to capture a targeted and engaging Instagram audience.

What’s Your Profile Personality?

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Show Us Your Talents!

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Go Behind the Curtain

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Provide Context To the Photo

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Go Easy on the Hashtags

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Filter It!

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Use Video to Shake it Up a Bit

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Don’t Clog People’s Streams

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Take a Look Back

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​ our profile photo should be a brand identifier. Make sure to complete your Y profile with your company logo, a short description about your business and your website address. This will allow people to easily contact you or identify you.

As far as photos, people want to see a consistent theme, vibe and voice. Be sure to stick with whatever theme you choose. All it takes is one bad photo for a fan to decide to unfollow your account.

What’s the one thing that you or your company is good at or famous for? Did you design that new building that everyone is talking about?

Do you use a design or architecture technique that no one else (or few) people use? Do you think that you and your coworkers have more fun at work than anyone else? Well, show that in a picture! It doesn’t have to be flashy or boastful…it just has to be authentic and interesting.

People love to see how the magic happens so don’t be afraid to show them what you do all day. It could be sketches of the ideation process, a well built model of a current project, a professional photo of a newly completed project or even that the staff took a hard hat tour.

The caption should add value to the image but not overpower it. Recommended length is about 140 characters. Humor is great but don’t force it…if you can’t think of something funny, just explain what users are looking at.

Correct spelling and grammar are a must. And emoji’s are always welcome.

Hashtags are great to connect your photo or photos or a specific event or movement. But and used strategically and sparingly. Two plenty. Any more than that causes the post

your brand with similar they should be relevant or three hashtags are to lose its authenticity.

A filter is not always needed but some filters like Valencia can really enhance the colors of a photo. A black and white filter can give your photo a vintage look or even use a fun border to make the photo stand out. The #nofilter hashtag is best for pictures that are beautiful on their own and really don’t need a filter. The best Instagram accounts consistently use the same couple filters.

In general, videos get fewer likes than images just because people don’t want to dedicate 15 seconds to watching a complete video. But there are times when experiences require more than a static photo. Just completed an amazing project? Use a short video to show the building’s progress from start to finish. Or perhaps you want to show the full scope and beauty of a project that can only be told through a 360 degree hyperlapse view.

The general rule of thumb is never post more than three photos a day. One exception to that rule would be a special event such as a milestone or annual event (anniversary event, staff outing, etc.)

Using the hashtag #TBT (throwback Thursday) or #FBF (flashback Friday) is a great opportunity to post photos from the past and make them relevant.

Maybe you have a great photo from an exhibition last summer or a photo of a room you designed last month. A #TBT or #FBF every once in a while is good.

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