How non-designers understand the architecture design project: a comparative study using immersive virtual reality

Abstract

This study focusses on how people who are not familiar with the traditional methods used to represent architecture understand architecture design projects. The main objective of the study was to assess the client’s level of comprehension of a design project presented using traditional representation methods in comparison with a method based on the use of immersive virtual reality. Two experiments were conducted, involving architects, design projects and real clients. In both experiments an architecture design project was presented using two different methods: i) the traditional method, ii) the immersive method, using virtual reality, viewed by means of a Head Mounted Display. The results were used to address the questions posed during the study regarding comprehension of architecture design projects. They confirmed the hypothesis that individuals who are not familiar with architectural representations have a better and more accurate perception of a project after viewing it using immersive virtual reality rather than looking at technical drawings, renders and scale models.

Immersive Virtual Reality, Tool for Accessible Design: Perceived Usability in an Interior Design Studio Setting

“…VR provides an interactive spatial medium that enables multi-dimensional spatial experience at a full scale, resulting in greater understanding of spatial information, which traditional 2D drawings have difficulty conveying (Hermund et al, 2018; Pamungkas et al, 2018). The use of VR has been proven to effectively immerse designers into space, allowing them to gain a more accurate and holistic understanding of spatial features like clearances, furniture, lighting conditions, and materials (Kaleja & Kozlovská, 2017; Serpa & Eloy, 2020). Therefore, we expected that using immersive VR would help the application and spatial understanding (SU) of ADA-compliant requirements in a more accurate way.…”