What is Virtual Architecture?

When considering the notion of virtual architecture - there are obvious ideas that come to mind, such as, the virtual world being online, movies like inception and the matrix where there is no singular real world but rather a series of realms where the possibilities are endless and gravity ceases to exist. Is something as simple as looking at our 3-D models of our designs virtual architecture?

However there are other notions of this virtual idea that was discovered within the tutorials. While thinking of technology and the online virtual world is one consideration, another is the virtual world of the mind. The way a building can react with our senses can provoke a series of reactions of the mind... the way the sun hits the our skin, the way the materials make us feel, the way the shape and size of space, or maybe just the journey through a building as a whole can trigger thoughts. Certain things could trigger a memory that then leads us to a virtual journey through our mind... the possibilities are endless for this concept.

Some examples...

The virtual world - online and in the movies



http://archidemo.blogspot.com/2008/07/museum-of-globe.html



This project was called "Opening the door Austrlian virtual pavillion". This project interests me because while there is physical architecture it also incorporates the virtual world into the building through the use of the large scale screens throughout. However, the physical architecture is clever in the way that it triggers the senses to feel like you could be in another realm with its futuristic feel.
Images accessed: http://www.architecture.rmit.edu.au/Projects/Venice_Biennale_Exhibitions.php



Kengo Kuma's 'Bamboo Wall House' while wouldn't strike you as virtual architecture at first glance. I think that the way the building inegrates with its natural surrounds, the use of materials, light and shadow and in particular the reflection room which is pictured above, all trigger a range of emotions and thoughts when being immersed within the building. This architecture describes the idea that was discussed at the start of this blog regarding the idea of virtual experience of the mind. The mind creates and imagines certain situations or thoughts that create their own virtual world that only the individual can experience.

Images accessed: http://inhabitat.com/great-bamboo-wall/