The adoption of Virtual Reality (VR) in architecture is set to become an invaluable resource, allowing multiple people to partake in a single session, either in the design process or when used to present the design of a building. This is according to Paragon Group Visualisation Manager Emile Maritz.

The visualisation team at the Paragon Group is involved on an aesthetic level in the design process. “Our role is to support our architects and interior designers, and integrate with them,” Maritz points out. This approach is threefold, and applies to both the exterior and interior design aspects of building projects.

Firstly, pre-visualisation media is provided for the initial design proposal, and presentations for a new project. This is the tender and acquisition phase, before construction commences. Secondly, the visualisation team assists with the fit-out and design process in the construction phase by providing high-quality 3D media once construction has begun.

This is where the design of the building is refined visually, and material finishes are selected and developed. Finally, the collective 3D media created in the development and construction phase of a build is used as marketing material for developers and clients. This is the phase where construction is complete, and the building is ready to be occupied.

The visualisation team uses multiple software packages, from Autodesk 3ds Max to Adobe Photoshop. As for displaying these presentations, depending on client requests and the fact that there are different levels of immersion in VR presentations, different hardware set-ups can assist in this regard.

These set-ups range from viewing 360° images on a smartphone in conjunction with Google Box or a Samsung Gear headset, to fully-interactive VR walkthroughs and 360° video fly-throughs, using a high-powered mobile workstation and a VR headset such as the HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. The former is a relatively low-level hardware set-up, while the latter is high level.

Fortunately, as VR technology and hardware has become more accessible, there has been a considerable cost reduction. As new technologies are explored and developed, these costs will continue to decrease. A leader in the development of VR headsets, for example, has released a headset that eliminates the need for a high-powered workstation, which current-generation VR headsets need to function.

This makes it possible to have VR presentations anywhere that the client requests, and not only in a pre-setup location. However, it is not yet viewed as a standard presentation format, but rather as a specialised 3D media field. The continuous technological development of software and hardware will inevitably lead to more architectural companies adopting VR in their daily workflows, and clients expecting such presentations.

“With the use of a VR headset, clients are now able to better understand design proposals in that they can be immersed in a virtual representation of any space in and around a building, and can look at different elements of the design from any angle possible,” Maritz elaborates.

Other benefits include troubleshooting design areas, and even assisting clients in selecting the materials and finishes to be applied. Furthermore, design discussions can be held in real-time, whereby a virtual meeting is held ‘inside’ the proposed building space in a VR session. This benefits the total workflow turnaround, and eliminates wasted time from update discussion to update implementation.

VR can also assist in coordinating the construction process, whereby the combined professional team – from the interior designers and architects to the engineers, main and sub-contractors, and clients – can collaborate in a virtual environment, and observe a visual representation of the construction process in its different phases.

Looking at future trends, Maritz points to 3D printing as another technology with great benefit to the design process, especially when combined with traditional presentation media and VR. “With 3D printing, we can add a tactile element to our designed building elements. This provides the client with an additional level of interaction with their idea or vision before the building project is even constructed.”

The Paragon Group realised as early as mid-2016 that it needed to grow its visualisation team and the quality of its output. By mid-2017 it had employed Ashna Premji and Jessica McClelland as 3D artists. Its skillset had also grown to include multiple 3D design software packages and media types for its architecture and interior design teams and clients.

“In growing the team and improving our skillsets, we are now able to service all of our own projects, without having to outsource any visualisation required. Presentation feedback from our architecture and interior design teams, together with client input, highlights the areas where there is a need for our team to develop further.

“We have training programmes available that, among others, teach architects and interior designers how to optimise 3D models during the design process for integration into the visualisation workflow. This assists the visualisation team in our creation VR-ready media. It contributes positively to the quality of our deliverable media and the production time needed to create these interactive presentations,” Maritz concludes.