Architect holds the code to the future of residential design projects

Design Haus Architecture, based in Nottingham UK, is pioneering the use of virtual reality (VR) technology borrowed from the gaming industry to transform the architectural design process and allow clients to see if their the vision for their project has been captured from the outset of the scheme

Design Haus, which was set up by James Brindley in 2018, is at the forefront of a new era of innovative architectural design, incorporating VR into the design process, allowing clients to step into the finished building and view it from all aspects before construction work has even begun.

James Brindley director and architect at Design Haus Architecture said: “VR removes the guesswork from the design process, as clients are able to explore the proposed design from within, rather than simply imagining the end result.

“They can experience the changing effects of light and weather conditions, producing a faithful and realistic representation of how the building will function once complete. This places emphasis on the enjoyment and practicality of a space, rather than a purely aesthetic approach.”

James has recently worked with a number of clients using the VR technology to bring their projects to life, including:

Water in the Trees, a unique swimming pool design where a lightweight roof appears to float above the building structure allowing natural light to flood the space. Frame-less glass walls and doors connect the interior with the wider environment and an internal ‘infinity edge’ pool set against the glass wall gives the impression that the person in the space is at the top of a waterfall high in the trees. VR was used from design conception and throughout every design decision to allow the client to see exactly how the space would feel from within.

City Heights, in Nottingham, is a timber clad structure which sits against the existing property. VR was used to allow the client to engage with the proposal from the various angles of the plot. It also helped the client decide on what type of furniture would be best suited to the spaces created.

The Den in Keyworth, Nottingham is a modern building extension, VR was used to decide on the pitch and length of the roof canopy and the angles of the timber roof supports. Both permitting the maximum amount of light into the new rooms. It also demonstrated how light and shadows would pass through the building throughout the day. It was used to specify the internal finishes and plan the furniture.

The VR technology allows clients to specify different materials within the scene to see exactly how a certain design choice will change the look and feel of a room. The digital representation can also incorporate furniture and interior design, giving clients the ability to plan the interiors before completion and make informed decisions.

Whilst firms such as Foster and Partners and Zaha Hadid Architects have used VR on multi-million-pound projects, James wants to bring the excitement and versatility of this technology to clients of all sizes including residential extension projects which are a huge financial and emotional undertaking for many clients.

James said: “It’s hard to put into words the impact that the VR technology offers. It gives our clients a way to experience architecture at the design phase like never before. Instead of looking at a flat drawing on a piece of paper, they can walk around inside the finished design and experience it at full scale.”