Hi Adam,
Thank you so much for your new content! Great work as always.
Question in the title. Also, where I'm from (Asia), architects are notorious for being stubborn in adapting new technology. Provided we could be skilled enough, do you think it would be viable to specialize in VR/ArchViz, as in being able to find foreign clients that are willing to spend for something very sophisticated but only produces a single aspect of a project's lifespan which is visualization/marketing?
The interactivity and immersion that VR provides would be a dream for mainstream ArchViz but it seems that at this level where the tech is still emerging, the best application is mostly concentrated in the gaming industry as the ratio of value it currently provides for architecture is relatively minimal compared to the learning curve, complexity, and overall time/effort it takes to produce professional-grade hyper-realistic imagery, whether in stills or VR/360 format.
TL;DR I am wondering whether all these new stuff, while amazing to produce, is overkill for architecture (unlike games) as companies are still going to focus in giving premium to design and construction and real estate developers are said to be making sales anyway without the added cost of having a VR reel produced because the public demand for VR might not be there yet. Not to mention the cost of having the right equipment (headsets, controllers, high-end PCs, etc).
If you could provide any insights from the conventions you've attended or any studies you've found that directly correlates VR to a boost in business, that would be great.
Thanks Adam, this has been helpful. Can't wait to finish all the lessons!
You have some good points. It is hard to adapt for a lot of people. I can tell you that as an in house arch viz professional, it has been game changing. My office has setup an VR area in the office, and everyone that uses it is blown away. However, the WOW factor is not the only thing to consider. It is BY FAR the most effective way to experience a building that is not yet constructed, so it is great for design development, and marketing purposes.
The setup of VR can be a large barrier for people, and also they feel funny doing it, but being in a headset is not the only way to experience VR. Desktop navigation of a building is also very effective...more so than just a static image. It is also easy to share and implement.