What might Metaverse do to Interior and Architectural projects?
Metaverse has allowed gamers, real estate developers, architectures, and interior designers to socialize, work, play and learn in a digital universe parallel to the real-world.
Read on to know more about the role that architects and interior designers will play in shaping the landscape of virtual space using metaverse.
By George Nicola (Expert Stager)
Metaverse Definition
Currently, there is no consensus about the definition of Metaverse. Metaverse originated from “Snowcrash,” a 1992 sci-fi novel written by Neal Stephenson, who explored the extent to which the evolution of the digital world might turn out in the future.
Metaverse is a shared 3-D virtual space that combines multiple technology elements and allows people to live a parallel life by assuming unique digitalized identities known as avatars.
Although the metaverse universe was first invented in sci-fi, it is no longer fiction because it takes inspiration from the real environment.
Through basic online simulations, such as augmented reality, virtual reality (VR), and video, people can visit virtual environments similar to the real world.
Just like the digital twin concept emerging, were we’ve written a lot about this here.
“Everything about Metaverse is one big educated guess based on what we’ve seen and predict might happen to the interior and architecture industry”
George Nicola (Expert Stager)
Is Metaverse a VR?
Simply put, metaverse will be accessible in VR, which indicates that it is not only potentially superior to VR but its functionality will also not be restricted to VR technologies. Generally, it stands out as an enhanced version of the internet with a huge network of 3D spaces and simulations rendered in real-time for collaboration and engagement.
Therefore, the metaverse world is not a virtual economy or a VR experience with avatars running through it, but a shared 3-D virtual space for maintaining identity, history, objects, payments, and the continuity of ownership in the VR world.
Metaverse Specifics: How It Can Be Used, Software, Equipment, Etc.
The virtual spaces within the metaverse must be imagined, designed, and built.
First, you need to select your most preferred social VR platform, which is generally categorized by its customizability and accessibility. Customisability questions how easy you can edit the virtual worlds. At the same time, accessibility examines whether you can run the platform on your PC and mobile devices or whether you need dedicated hardware, such as VR headsets.
Secondly, you need to question whether you want to build the virtual world based on the real world (for example, replicating a digital twin) or create a whole new design.
Thirdly, you must decide how complex your virtual world would be. The complexity of your virtual space is directly related to the number of users who can join it. Existing social VR technology like Mozilla Hubs limits an environment’s complexity. This is because most of them run on browsers only, while a few like AltspaceVR can be installed on mobile devices.
Generally, the factors that significantly affect metaverse performance are:
- Overall file size of the virtual world
- Number of polygons (basic shapes that form a 3D object)
- Texture sizes (number of pixels for 2D images placed over 3D objects)
In the end, the process of creating these virtual worlds is based on the abilities and expectations of the end-users rather than your technical skills.
Metaverse Platform Predictions
Since metaverse is still a new phenomenon, predicting the platform’s outcomes could be likened to how it wasn’t easy to envision what the Internet of 2020 would be in the early1980s. Here, we have published a 2030 metaverse story for an architect living and working inside metaverse (it’s fictional)
However, we can ascertain some core elements as below.
Our predictions show that the metaverse platform will:
- Be live and synchronous – Just like real-life events, metaverse will exist consistently in real-time
- Be persistent – This means that it will not pause, reset or expire.
- Cover both physical and digital worlds, open and closed platforms, and public and private networks.
- Allow an unlimited number of users – Individual users will participate in specific events simultaneously.
- Be a fully functioning economy – It will allow individuals and businesses to create and own space while selling and investing their work within the metaverse.
- Be occupied by “content” and “experiences” designed and operated by independent persons, organized groups, and commercial enterprises.
- Offer exceptional data interoperability, digital assets, and content across all experiences.
The biggest concern right now is whether users will have a single or multiple digital identities/avatars to use across all experiences consistently.
When Metaverse Will Become a Real Thing?
It is difficult to understand the exact day when the metaverse will be fully launched; however, it depends on how you define it. In reality, it could already be in use now, or it is several years away from becoming a real thing.
Several tech firms, especially in the gaming industry, are currently conducting tests with the metaverse using virtual applications. The ability of metaverse to fuse the physical world and the virtual worlds in games, such as Minecraft, Fortnite, or Roblox, is no longer a futuristic vision.
According to Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s metaverse will be very sophisticated and could take several years to build. However, various soft launches within the next few years are expected, as he wants to sign up at least one billion users on the platform by 2031. Recent market projections show that by 2024, the metaverse market value could rise to $800 billion.
How Can Metaverse Change Interior Design Projects?
Metaverse interior design projects will be fully integrated into various physical locations. Interior designers and digital architects will collaborate to design these virtual spaces in real-time while fine-tuning them until they achieve the desired outcome.
Metaverse interiors will also maximize physical products that will complement augmented reality living. This will allow users or potential customers to connect the virtual living spaces designed by metaverse architects with objects in both worlds.
Since metaverse interiors don’t require physical materials, they will eliminate manufacturing costs and lead times for both consumers and designers. This will hasten the personalization of designed products and spaces.
For instance, if a potential customer wants a digital bed molded from red plastic instead of mahogany, it would take minutes to change the material texture.
I know, that sounds too sci-fi 🙂
Will metaverse allow more creativity for designers?
On one hand, the lack of physical constraints gives designers immense freedom. No longer limited by materials, manufacturing costs, or lead times, designers can explore new forms and aesthetics. The metaverse opens up creative possibilities that are unachievable in the physical world.
On the other hand, metaverse design still relies on available technology and platforms, limiting creativity. Designers must work within the capabilities of current VR and 3D visualization tools. And platforms like social VR apps impose constraints on environment complexity. So metaverse creativity may still be confined.
More on how metaverse could impact designer creativity.
Can metaverse replace physical architecture and design?
While metaverse offers new possibilities, physical spaces remain vital. The tactile, sensory experience of physical buildings and interiors is irreplaceable. And human connection through traditional practices and client interactions are essential. The metaverse cannot fully substitute for the real world.
But metaverse can enhance design processes. It provides a way to visualize and test designs, collaborate across distances, and get client feedback. Metaverse is a powerful tool to complement physical architecture and design. It does not make traditional practices obsolete.
Read on to learn more about the role of metaverse in architecture and design.
Metaverse and Virtual Interior Design?
Virtual interior design has risen in popularity. Metaverse will be easily integrated with virtual interior design to re-imagine living spaces with finished furniture of different kinds. There is a high likelihood that virtual interior design and digital architecture will develop as various industries within the metaverse.
The emergence of projects such as the virtual newsroom indicates the virtual interior design niche is in high demand. As metaverse gradually evolves, a generation of wide-ranging virtual interior designers will be paid just to design virtual environments and curate digital living spaces within the platform.
Metaverse and Architecture
Regardless of how talented a designer is, VR for architecture and design is vital in getting more clients on board. One of the biggest challenges in design-led industries like architecture is convincing clients that the completed version of a design or project will resemble or outmatch its 2D or 3D version. This is where metaverse comes in.
In the metaverse world, architecture stands out as one of the essential elements that allow users to move around and socialize with each other. In metaverse architecture design, architects will use digital technology and computer software to set buildings, build entire streets or even cities, render activities through virtual images and showcase their clients.
Therefore, the implication of metaverse platform architecture will be significantly stretched out. Not only will existing architects of physical buildings shift their focus to designing virtual buildings, but they will also collaborate with several clients, consultants, contractors, engineers, game designers, government officials, and programmers to complete a project.
The emergence of metaverse will become an integral part of presenting architectural projects, but it is also essential in streamlining the design process. Although metaverse will be instrumental, it cannot substitute human interaction, traditional projects, and client interaction. It is more of a work-in-progress or debugging tool.
DIY Design and Architecture Projects in the Metaverse
Clients can own spaces to design their projects and hire a designer to supervise or provide feedback with metaverse. Then, using their preferred social VR platform, the clients can build a whole new design or create a digital twin before bringing it to life in the physical world.
Mars House is the first fully completed digital house designed by Krista Kim and recently sold as a digital file for $500,000. Designed during the first wave of COVID-19, Italian glass furniture makers can build this transparent virtual home in real life once the owner decides to transport it from the metaverse to ‘real life.
In the same way, clients can take full advantage of the interactive development of 3D visualization technology and metaverse to make such architectural technology possible.
Metaverse Virtual Schools and Universities for Interior Designers and Architects
The value of metaverse for education creates an immersive learning experience, as demonstrated in this video. Education is deeply entrenched in traditional practices, including physical classrooms, grading systems, curriculum structures, certifications, etc. However, there are no schools in virtual spaces.
With teachers scrambling to use Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic, metaverse will likely enhance educational activities by prompting architects and interior designers to design virtual spaces for class lectures and campus activities.
Key Takeaways
- Metaverse originated from “Snowcrash”, a 1992 sci-fi novel written by Neal Stephenson.
- Metaverse is not virtual reality but it will be accessible in VR.
- With metaverse, users can own spaces where they design their own projects
- You need a social VR platform to design and build virtual spaces within the metaverse.
- The virtual spaces complexity is directly related to the number of users who can join it.
- Metaverse will use phygital products to complement augmented reality living.
- It is difficult to understand the exact day when the metaverse will be fully launched.
