2018.03.09: Immersive VR tools in the design process
Ondrej Tichy
Précis: Visual Communication at Heatherwick Studio is exploring new ways of visualising architectural projects by implementing new immersive technology from the beginning until the end of the design process. It is implementing VR sketching in the concept stage of projects, reviving traditional hand sketching by adding a third dimension to it in the Virtual 3D space. This brings back the artistic craft currently missing in the computer modelling environment.
In later stages of the project, they are using game engines to visualise the space, light, materials and the overall experience in VR as parallel to conventional 3d modelling/rendering tools.
In a second experiment, they have started using medical CT scanning to capture internal spaces of our conceptual models and bring it into 3d and especially to test these spaces in VR. This allows us to see small scale models in 1:1 using VR headsets.
About: Ondrej Tichy is currently Head of Visual Communication at Heatherwick Studio, developing a strategic vision for how studio project represents and communicates the uniqueness of each design intent to its highest level, while taking into account the purpose and audience of communication, the appropriate tools, as well as the cultural and political contexts that influence project success.
Ondrej is also leading a superstructure package on Pier 55 project, which is a 2.7-acre public park and performance space on Manhattan’s lower west. The superstructure is made of 132 concrete precast pots and the whole park is placed on the 375 piles on the River Hudson.
Since joining Heatherwick Studio in 2012, Ondrej was working on Al Fayah Park in Abu Dhabi, where he was leading a 40,000m2 sprayed concrete superstructure and Zeitz MOCAA which is a contemporary museum of modern art in Cape Town.
Prior to working at Heatherwick Studio, he gained experience working with BIG in Copenhagen, where he was involved in several major projects, most notably, the public park Superkilen which was awarded with a 2013 AIA Honor, shortlisted for Design of the Year by the Design Museum in London as well as for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture.
Ondrej continues to lecture at universities and conferences on the application of virtual reality tools in architectural practice.