DESC9103: Virtual Architecture

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DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

• Ning Gu (ning_at_design-ning.net)
• Key Centre of Design Computing and Cognition
• University of Sydney

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Presentation Overview

• Part one concept of virtual architecture,
  virtual worlds or Cyberspace.
• Metaphorical design.
• Purposes of virtual architecture.
• Historical and future development.
• Part two designing 3D virtual architecture.
• 3D models behaviours.
• Part three design styles of virtual
  architecture.
• Three aspects visualisation, navigation and
  interaction.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Concept of Virtual Architecture

• Definition multi-user Internet places designed
  using the metaphor of architecture.
• Purposes of virtual architecture
• Simulation of the physical world.
• Functional virtual places.
• The definition of virtual architecture indicates
  the use of metaphor
• Through the use of metaphor, we express concepts
  in one domain in terms of another.
• Architectural metaphor analogy to architectural
  design in the physical world.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Concept of Virtual Architecture

• By introducing virtual architecture, the meaning
  of our world is expanded to include
• Physical world that we are relatively familiar
  with.
• And, virtual world comprised of abstract bits.
• Designing WWW Designing
  Places

Architectural
Metaphor
DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Development of Virtual Architecture

• Metaphors for designing computer or WWW
• Giant brain.
• Information superhighway.
• Desktop.
• Architecture,
• Why architecture to introduce and apply place
  for organising and categorising
• Digital information.
• Our experiences in WWW.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Development of Virtual Architecture

• Origins of virtual architecture feature guns.
• Military simulation.
• Internet games.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Development of Virtual Architecture

• Current use of virtual architecture
• Social community virtual museum and chat room.
• Academics online learning and research.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Development of Virtual Architecture

• Current use of virtual architecture
• Communication and collaboration online
  conferencing and design collaborative.
• Architecture space and multimedia study.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Historical Review of Virtual Architecture

• Early stage of virtual architecture
• Text-based virtual architecture MUDs and MOOs.
• Words are everything.
• MUD Multi-user Domain.
• A place for role-playing games, for example,
  Dungeons and Dragons.
• MOO MUD Object Oriented.
• Objects participants bodies and objects around
  them.
• Verbs for activating behaviours.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Historical Review of Virtual Architecture

• Adopted the architectural metaphor, the WWW has
  accommodated many different technologies
  supporting
• Multi-user text-based virtual architecture.
• Two-dimensional graphical virtual architecture.
• 3D virtual architecture.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Historical Review of Virtual Architecture

• Nowadays, 3D virtual architecture have become the
  most frequently seen forms.
• The development of 3D virtual architecture is
  closely related to the development of various
  design platforms, for example
• Game and chat oriented Quake engine and Blaxxun.
• Extened from MOO LambdaMOO 3D VRML models.
• Currently used Active Worlds, Virtual Worlds,
  Adobe Atmosphere and bahaviour-based Virtools.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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3D Virtual Architecture
DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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3D Virtual Architecture

• Quake engine is mainly applied to develop
  Internet gaming environments.
• Allows players to move around and shoot.
• 3D rendering is always a focus in Quake engine.
• Blaxxun is mostly applied to develop social
  environment that provide visual simulation, and
  simple tools for communication like online chat.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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3D Virtual Architecture
DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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3D Virtual Architecture

• LambdaMOO provides programming language to
  integrate various tools into virtual architecture
  for supporting professional activities online,
  especially academic-related.
• Slide projector, whiteboard, recorder and so on.
• VRML models provides 3D visualisations.
• Like a visual shell for the LambdaMOO objects.
• Trace from the text-based virtual architecture
• Interactions are not intuitive, they need to be
  activated by using textual commands.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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3D Virtual Architecture
DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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3D Virtual Architecture
DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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3D Virtual Architecture

• 3D models behaviours.
• 3D models visualisation as references for
  navigation and interaction.
• Behaviours that are associated with the models
  for supporting certain purposes.
• Simple behaviours opening a web page, displaying
  a texture, performing an animation and so on

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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3D Virtual Architecture

• Further development
• Behaviours can be further expanded by using
  various programming language, for example, C
  for Active Worlds.
• SDK (software development kits) allows higher
  level reasoning mechanisms to be integrated, for
  example, rational agents.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Summary of Part One

• 3D virtual architecture is the most frequently
  seen forms nowadays.
• Most Object-oriented 3D Virtual architecture 3D
  Models Behaviours.
• 3D virtual architecture multi-user Internet
  places.
• Architectural design reflects on the resultant 3D
  models designed using the architectural metaphor.
• Computational elements of 3D virtual architecture
  allows interactive behaviours to be programmed
  and integrated in the environments.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Summary of Part One

• Current use of 3D virtual architecture
• Simulation of physical architecture or surreal
  vision.
• An escape from gravity, solidity and other
  physical constraints.
• An online environment with a sense of place and a
  sense of presence for people to communicate with
  others and to work on simple tasks.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Summary of Part One

• Limitations of virtual architecture?
• The origin of virtual worlds as Internet games
  and military simulation requires high virtual
  reality.
• Superficial understanding of the architectural
  metaphor.
• Original needs of virtual architecture as a
  simulation of physical world multimedia
  presentation and CAAD.
• Potential of virtual architecture
• Better support for professional online
  activities.
• Full potential of being virtual dynamic
  structure, individualises places, virtual cyborg
  and so on.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Design Representation of 3D Virtual Architecture

• F-B-S (Gero 1990) framework for design
  representation in a virtual context.
• Function intended purposes.
• Behaviours programmed computing elements.
• Structure an aggregation of 3D models.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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An Example of 3D Virtual Architecture
DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Active Worlds as a Design Platform

• An example of 3D object-oriented virtual
  architecture Active Worlds.
• A multi-user 3D virtual environment that works on
  the internet as a client-server application.
• Active Worlds as a design platform for 3D virtual
  architecture
• Design space for the structure of the
  environment a library of 3D models categorised
  according to a set of architectural categories of
  objects.
• Design space for the behaviour of the
  environment a set of triggers and actions.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Design Spaces in Active Worlds
DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Design Spaces in Active Worlds

• Alternatives for structure and behaviour can be
  combined in any way the designer wants.
• A two dimensional design space in 3D virtual
  architecture can be conceived as
• Along one dimension designers can select a 3D
  model for an object.
• Along the other dimension designers can select
  one or more behaviours.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Summary of Part Two

• Designing 3D virtual architecture can be
  conceived as designing and combining
• Architectural elements, and
• Computing elements.
• Designer ascribes behaviours to 3D objects in a
  virtual environment.
• This is in contrast to designs in the physical
  world where behaviours of the physical objects
  are causally related to their materials and forms.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Styles of 3D Virtual Architecture

• Styles of 3D virtual architecture can be analysed
  in terms of
• Visualisation application of metaphor, layout,
  form and other visual aspects.
• Navigation selecting and arranging way finding
  aims and hyper links.
• Interaction ascribing behaviours, designing how
  behaviours are activated and combined.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Design Styles of Visualisation

• Architectural metaphor v.s. abstract metaphor

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Design Styles of Visualisation

• Different styles of the architectural metaphor

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Design Styles of Visualisation

• Different uses of forms

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Design Styles of Visualisation

• Different layouts vertical expansion v.s.
  horizontal expansion

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Navigation in 3D Virtual Architecture

• Way finding aims (based on cognitive studies in
  physical environments)
• Spatial elements paths, openings, hallways,
  stairs, intersections, landmarks, maps, signs and
  etc.
• Social element help from tour guide
  (conversational softbot) or other occupants.
• Hyper links (unique in virtual environments)
• Teleport portal a hyper link that takes avatars
  from one location to another location without
  transition.
• Warp portal a hyper link that takes avatars from
  one location to another location with transition.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Styles of Navigation

• Different uses of way finding aims

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Styles of Navigation

• Different used of hyper links

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Activating Behaviours in 3D Virtual Architecture

• Mouse-click intentional, occupants are expecting
  some consequences.
• Designers allow occupants to have certain degrees
  of control over the interactions with the
  environment.
• Bump (especially with hidden objects)
  accidental, occupants encounters the interactions
  unexpectedly.
• Designers express design intentions more
  assertively.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Interaction in 3D Virtual Architecture

• Carefully ascribe behaviours to different 3D
  models of virtual architecture.
• Decide how the behaviours are activated and
  connected with each other.
• Therefore, one interaction between the occupants
  and the environment can activate other subsequent
  interactions.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Styles of Interaction

• A studio responds differently to the existence of
  its occupants.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Design Styles of Virtual Architecture

• By understanding the styles of 3D virtual
  architecture
• Develop design principles for 3D virtual
  architecture.
• Formalise designs of 3D virtual architecture to
  develop design formalisms for reproducing a
  design style, varying or extending a design
  style, and even, automating the design process.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Summary Designing Virtual Architecture

• Metaphor of physical architecture
• Analogy from physical architecture.
• Constraints in design
• Physical architecture geographical context.
• Virtual architecture free from physical
  constraints, but extremely abstract forms tend to
  be disorienting and distracting.
• Organisation of virtual architecture
• Cognitive map references to physical
  architecture.
• Behaviours that only exist in virtual
  architecture.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004
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Summary Designing Virtual Architecture

• Metaphor beyond being there
• Virtual architecture is not constrained by the
  physical.
• Behaviours can be ascribes to objects in the
  world that are relevant to being in a virtual
  world.
• Organisation a new set of design principles
• Requirements that are associated with the
  experiences of virtual presence.
• The way a person interacts with virtual
  architecture through the input devices of a
  keyboard and mouse.

DESC9103 Virtual Architecture

University of Sydney, July 2004