A classroom experience on the use of virtual reality as a tool for representation in architectural education

Historical, cultural, and social environments have a great influence on the practice of architecture. In the twenty-first century, the world of architecture is being highly affected by developments in technology. One of the innovations that technology has delivered to architecture is virtual reality. Since it removes the boundaries and limitations caused by physical reality, it supports architecture to widen its perspective. Architectural education, forming the basis of the architecture profession, is responsible for keeping up with the developments within the practice, as well as to determine and lead them. Therefore, it is the duty of the architectural educators to study and experiment on the use of virtual reality in architecture. This article examines the effects and benefits of the use of virtual reality technologies in architectural representation, through a case study of a studio course, where a three-fold structure for the use of virtual reality as a tool for representation in architecture is proposed for a well-rounded understanding of the built or to-be-built environment.