2017 - Virtual Reality as a Tool for Architecture

Taking 'the Glass Chain' as a departure point, the panel discussion chaired by James Taylor-Foster (Editor-at-Large at ArchDaily), will speculate on the potentials of designing and experiencing architecture across real and virtual domains, and the effects this could have on design methodologies and practice in future.

Panelists include:

Lara Lesmes and Fredrik Hellberg (Co-Directors of Space Popular, Architecture and Research Practice and unit master of research unit ‘Tools for Architecture’ at the Architectural Association)

Ben Vickers (Chief Technology Officer at the Serpentine Galleries and an initiator of the open-source monastic order unMonastery.)

Katharine Vega (artist and researcher at chroma.space)

Key Questions:

• • What can virtual realities bring to the design and development of our built environment?

  • How does the visual experience of virtual worlds trigger other senses?

  • Can we expect architecture to exist purely within the virtual realm in the near future?

  • How are the skills of an architect relevant to the design of architecture in virtual reality?

  • How does a technology such as VR or AR make the shift from “fad” to fact?

  • What are the real world experiential implications of VR today and in the future?

James Taylor-Foster

Lara Lesmes and Fredrik Hellberg