Immersive 3d-Sketching: A Multidisciplinary Collaborative Workflow Incorporating Virtual Reality In Early Design Stages

This paper explores virtual shape-finding methods, merging conventional and digital techniques in early stages of architectural design. We focus on VR implementation guided by a developed design workflow to address the following research questions: (1) How can we develop a pedagogical framework for incorporating VR as a design tool in a collaborative architectural design project? (2) How can immersive 3D sketching contribute to shape-finding and iterative workflow during the conception stage of the architectural design process? The workflow includes four stages: site data collection with 2D sketches, 2D-to-3D sketch/model translation in VR, model optimisation in CAD software, and exporting the model into a game engine for simulation and analysis. Validation involved 40 students working in groups, evaluated through surveys, portfolio submissions, and tutor observations. The study highlights the framework's strengths and challenges in utilising VR as an accessible tool that enables diverse user contributions to the architectural design conception stage.