Designing Digital Space: An Architect's Guide to Virtual Reality [Paperback]

Daniela Bertol (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471146625 | ISBN-13: 978-0471146629 | Publication Date: December 20, 1996 | Edition: 1

The Complete Guide to Virtual Reality in Architecture and Design

The first in-depth book on virtual reality (VR) aimed specifically at architecture and design professionals, Designing Digital Space steers you skillfully through the learning curve of this exciting new technology. Beginning with a historical overview of the evolution of architectural representations, this unique resource explains what VR is, how it is being applied today, and how it promises to revolutionize not only the design process, but the form and function of the built environment itself. Vividly illustrating how VR fits alongside traditional methods of architectural representation, this comprehensive guide prepares you to make optimum practical use of this powerful interactive tool, and embrace the new role of the architect in a virtually designed world.

Offers in-depth coverage of the virtual universe--data representation and information management, static and dynamic worlds, tracking and visual display systems, control devices, and more.

Examines a wide range of current VR architectural applications, from walkthroughs, simulations, and evaluations to reconstructions and networked environments

Includes insightful essays by leading VR developers covering some of today's most innovative projects

Integrates VR into the historical framework of architectural development, with detailed sections on the past, present, and future

Features a dazzling array of virtual world images and sequential displays

Explores the potential impact of digital architecture on the built environment of the future

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

With the ability to construct a realistic working 3D image, virtual reality (VR) is changing the way architects work. This guide, the first of its kind, shows architects how VR can fit in with more traditional 3D representations such as models and drawings. This unique reference speculates about the future of architecture-how VR will affect the process of design, what kinds of new environments will be possible, and what will be the architect's new role. Filled with images of virtual worlds and classical architecture, the book also contains essays by leading VR developers on current applications of this new technology in architecture.

From the Back Cover

The Complete Guide to Virtual Reality in Architecture and Design

The first in-depth book on virtual reality (VR) aimed specifically at architecture and design professionals, Designing Digital Space steers you skillfully through the learning curve of this exciting new technology. Beginning with a historical overview of the evolution of architectural representations, this unique resource explains what VR is, how it is being applied today, and how it promises to revolutionize not only the design process, but the form and function of the built environment itself. Vividly illustrating how VR fits alongside traditional methods of architectural representation, this comprehensive guide prepares you to make optimum practical use of this powerful interactive tool, and embrace the new role of the architect in a virtually designed world.

Offers in-depth coverage of the virtual universe—data representation and information management, static and dynamic worlds, tracking and visual display systems, control devices, and more.

Examines a wide range of current VR architectural applications, from walkthroughs, simulations, and evaluations to reconstructions and networked environments

Includes insightful essays by leading VR developers covering some of today's most innovative projects

Integrates VR into the historical framework of architectural development, with detailed sections on the past, present, and future

Features a dazzling array of virtual world images and sequential displays

Explores the potential impact of digital architecture on the built environment of the future

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (December 20, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471146625
• ISBN-13: 978-0471146629
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,263,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Italian born Daniela Bertol --artist, author, architectural visionary and Yoga teacher-- has worked for almost two decades on projects integrating science, art and architecture. Her site-specific environment and art installations have been exhibited in the United States and Italy. She has published numerous articles in art and science journals and lectured at several congresses and symposia worldwide and is the author of four books on geometry, architecture and digital space: "Visualizing with CAD" (Springer-Verlag, 1994) "Designing Digital Space" (John Wiley & Sons, 1997, "Form Geometry Structure | from Nature to Design" (Bentley Institute Press, 2011), "SPACETECTURE" (Axes Mundi Press, 2011).
Yoga practitioner for over twenty years, she has traveled extensively in India, Mexico, Australia, Europe and North Africa, visiting and photographing many of the places portrayed in "Earth & Sky", the book she is currently writing.
Her design vision integrates principles of Eastern philosophies and practices with contemporary architectural theories and research, as expressed in her most recent project "Sun Farm", a series of places devoted to sustainable design where the shaping of the landscape is based on solar and stellar alignments.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lightweight., September 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Designing Digital Space: An Architect's Guide to Virtual Reality (Paperback)

Her theoretical suppositions are vastly underdeveloped. This book is primarily: 1)Straightforward documentation of outdated VR examples. 2)Practical approach to constructing models with regard to polygon counts and load times. 3)A chance for Bertol to publish plenty of her own tacky renderings. Too much the other side of Marcos Novak's trans-diarrhea...