Human-Computer Interaction and Human-Building Interaction

Modelling Virtual Space in Architecture

David Kurmann, Maia Engeli

Published 1996

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📄 Paper
Architecture and Virtual Reality (VR) are joined in a very special relationship. The architecture discipline on the one hand is a prime research and application area for virtual reality. VR on the other hand could offer new possibilities to design and model architecture by designers and architects. This paper will present ideas and implementations of a research project which uses VR techniques to support architectural design. New interaction techniques are presented with our spatial modelling tool called 'Sculptor' and the intelligent agents that are connected with it. Additionally, the use of space as an element is introduced into the interactive spatial modelling which leads to new concepts and ideas for the architectural design using virtual reality. We will look at the reasons why we had to introduce this 'void element' and show some of the consequences of applying it to Sculptor.

Abstract

Architecture and Virtual Reality (VR) are joined in a very special relationship. The architecture discipline on the one hand is a prime research and application area for virtual reality. VR on the other hand could offer new possibilities to design and model architecture by designers and architects. This paper will present ideas and implementations of a research project which uses VR techniques to support architectural design. New interaction techniques are presented with our spatial modelling tool called 'Sculptor' and the intelligent agents that are connected with it. Additionally, the use of space as an element is introduced into the interactive spatial modelling which leads to new concepts and ideas for the architectural design using virtual reality. We will look at the reasons why we had to introduce this 'void element' and show some of the consequences of applying it to Sculptor.

Topics

AR/VR interfacesAR/VR/XR visualizationHCI-HBIInteractive VisualizationVR dashboardsXR design reviewXRAI for AECXRAI inclusive designcollaborative VR co-designimmersive designmetaverse for AEC

Cite this paper

@inproceedings{494064f6,
author = {Kurmann, David and Engeli, Maia},
title = {Modelling virtual space in architecture},
year = {1996},
isbn = {0897918258},
publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery},
address = {New York, NY, USA},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3304181.3304198},
doi = {10.1145/3304181.3304198},
abstract = {Architecture and Virtual Reality (VR) are joined in a very special relationship. The architecture discipline on the one hand is a prime research and application area for virtual reality. VR on the other hand could offer new possibilities to design and model architecture by designers and architects. This paper will present ideas and implementations of a research project which uses VR techniques to support architectural design. New interaction techniques are presented with our spatial modelling tool called `Sculptor' and the intelligent agents that are connected with it. Additionally, the use of space as an element is introduced into the interactive spatial modelling which leads to new concepts and ideas for the architectural design using virtual reality. We will look at the reasons why we had to introduce this `void element' and show some of the consequences of applying it to Sculptor.},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology},
pages = {77–82},
numpages = {6},
keywords = {architectural design, interaction with the 'element space', spatial modelling, virtual reality application},
location = {Hong Kong},
series = {VRST '96}
}