In the realm of architecture and design, conceptualizing, building, and designing a space can take a lot of time and effort, not to mention using up a lot of resources and money. This is true whether you are the architect, designer, client, or even the stakeholder.  

With augmented reality (AR), however, just about every aspect of a new project can be streamlined, from research and planning to execution. Augmented reality is the key to designing beautiful, functional spaces with ease without wasting time or precious resources.  

What Is Augmented Reality and How Does It Apply to Architecture and Design? 

Augmented reality is an innovative technology architects and designers can use to superimpose computer-generated images or elements on a person’s view of the real world. Where virtual reality is entirely digitally generated to make it feel like you are in a completely different world, AR is the coming together of the real world and the virtual. You can use headsets, goggles, or even your phone’s camera to see what’s actually in front of you while also placing digital elements into that space.  

In architecture, augmented reality is the integration of digital 3D designs and models with real-world buildings or rooms. Designers and builders can use AR to more easily visualize the space they are creating by bringing in digital elements before actually making those changes in the real world. 

There are numerous benefits to using AR for architecture and design:  

• Improves operational and project efficiency  

• Can boost innovation by providing inspirational visuals  

• Saves money  

• Reduces errors and faults  

• Improves client experiences  

AR can offer architecture and design companies a competitive edge over professionals who are not utilizing it.  

Ways AR is Revolutionizing the Architecture and Design Industries  

AR is quickly becoming an invaluable tool to have when designing buildings and rooms. It offers significant value in the early stages when planning projects and attracting investors as well as at the end stages when you’re executing the initial design and furnishing the space.  

1. Virtual Tours  

Virtual tours are essential as they enable stakeholders, prospective buyers, or tenants to visualize the space before making any commitments. For example, when trying to get investment money for a project, architects can use AR to create 3D representations of the space they want to create. This can help the investor better see the vision, which can increase the likelihood that they will support the project.  

2. Project Planning 

Whether you are the architect, designer, or customer, AR can also be used to plan and conceptualize new projects. For example, homebuyers can use AR to visualize the home of their dreams and help them decide which architectural design they want for their home.  

Designers and builders can use AR to create full-scale 3D models and superimpose them on real-life environments, which can streamline and enhance the creation process. For example, certain software that uses AR can enable you to stretch or shrink design elements or even move them around and see what they would look like in the actual space, such as deciding how big a wall should be or where it should go.  

3. Custom Room Design 

AR is also amazing when it comes to interior design and creating custom spaces. Designers can use AR to more easily show clients what certain elements could look like in their space, which can help with decision-making and ensure the client is more satisfied with the end result. 

For example, AR can enable you to see what it would look like to change the paint color on the walls, or what it would look like to hang decor in a certain spot. AR also enables you to place furniture pieces in a space, such as showing a client how a new couch would look. 

This technology is also incredibly useful when designing accent lighting for a room. The lighting really can make or break a design, but it can be hard to help clients visualize these things before making the actual changes.  

AR, therefore, makes it easier to show clients how their space could be transformed with new lighting. AR enables you to place any kind of lighting in a room and see what kind of difference it could make, from floor, table, wall, and even ceiling lights.  

4. Project Collaboration 

Because augmented reality enhances the visualization of projects and designs, it can improve collaboration between everyone involved, including stakeholders and clients. Providing clearer visuals of what the design can look like can help eliminate doubts and streamline workflow.  

5. Enhanced Client Experiences 

AR enables clients to have more involvement in the final design and can even help them make their own design choices. Again, designers and architects can use AR to more easily show a client what the space could look like or what their plans for the space are, which can allow the client to provide better feedback on what they do or do not like.  

The clients themselves can also use AR to play around with different design elements in the space, such as changing out lighting, artwork, and furniture, or updating paint colors. All of this means that the client is more likely to be satisfied at the end of the project, which ensures a better overall experience.  

The Future of AR in Architecture and Design 

Already, AR is having a significant impact on the building and design industries, but there are also some promising applications for the future. Safety hazards, for example, could be eliminated or mitigated with AR. Architects or project managers, for example, can walk through job sites using AR glasses that could enable them to detect any issues, allowing them to step in and make changes before the issue becomes dangerous or unmanageable.  

Existing design software that already works with AR technology will also continue to become even better, making it even easier to visualize design elements in a space without being able to tell the difference between what is digitally generated and what is real.  

There are potentially unimaginable ways that AR could change the industry in the future, but one thing is certain — AR is already an invaluable tool that can take architecture and design to a new level, enabling professionals and businesses in the industry to reach new heights.

Author : Miles Oliver

Cover image by Patrick Schneider on Unsplash