in conversation with pico velasquez on architecting the metaverse - Designboom

architecting the adjacent procreation of the virtual realm

No longer subject fabrication oregon a fragmentary envisioned concept, the Metaverse is present and being built arsenic we speak. Dubbed the adjacent procreation of the web, this immersive hold of our carnal world has already begun transforming the quality experience. Today, integer experiences person drastically evolved with advances successful cutting-edge technologies specified arsenic blockchain, 3D modeling, artificial intelligence, AR, and VR. Together, they person revolutionized however we design, work, learn, play, and interact. Particularly, the merging of carnal and virtual worlds has unlocked boundless opportunities for architects and designers shaping the Metaverse.

While this alternate world has already established a beardown foothold successful the integer world, uncertainty astir its nuances inactive pervades development. In an iterative process, its parameters are inactive being defined, its limitations inactive being resolved, and its aboriginal inactive being innovated. As media partners of Dubai’s MetaWeek summit held successful September 2022, designboom attended the two-day league to larn much astir the aboriginal of the enigmatic integer realm from immoderate of the astir salient planetary experts and manufacture pioneers astatine the forefront of Metaverse development.

On that occasion, we sat down with Pico Velasquez — keynote talker astatine the conference, prolific architect, computational designer, and laminitis of Metaverse startup VIIRA — to get a deeper insight. We discussed the relation architects and designers could play successful its shaping, the integration of human-centric plan successful virtual worldbuilding, its limitations, underlying technologies, and more. Read our speech successful afloat below.

all images © Pico Velasquez, unless stated otherwise

interview with metaverse visionary, pico velasquez

designboom (DB): To statesman with, can you explicate to america what the Metaverse really is?

Pico Velasquez (PV): The Metaverse tin beryllium defined arsenic an hold of the net with an infinite magnitude of interconnected spaces that are interoperable, decentralized, community-governed, operated, and owned. Visually and creatively speaking, the Metaverse is simply a acceptable of 3D virtual environments adjacent to what we spot successful multiplayer video games, societal media, and augmented world combined. It volition dwell of each data, visualized oregon not, done 2D, 3D, XD, XR, website platforms, oregon adjacent purely code. And users volition beryllium capable to entree it done aggregate hardware specified arsenic computers, smartphones, VR, and AR.

From an architecture perspective, the Metaverse lies successful the intersection of exertion and plan for some carnal and virtual environments. It volition see worldbuilding, metropolis planning, architectural structures, immersive experiences, gamification, marketplaces, and NFTs — wherever integer identities volition interact successful real-time.

in speech with Metaverse visionary Pico Velasquez astatine MetaWeek Dubai

DB: The Metaverse is inactive an enigmatic and breathtaking conception that is being built arsenic we speak. What relation volition architects and designers play successful its shaping? What caller opportunities for originative look has it brought astir already?

PV: The Metaverse is simply a fascinating caller accidental for architects and designers alike, arsenic it volition alteration each industry, including art, culture, education, entertainment, and each different aspects of our system and regular lives. It is imperative to recognize that the Metaverse has an incredibly analyzable acceptable of layers; it is designing an full parallel beingness that seamlessly connects with our existing one. From cities and buildings to avatars and identities, successful summation to ‘spaces,’ we volition request to plan however radical and AI volition communicate, trade, and interact.

Designing a Metaverse is besides similar creating a story. At the core, we cognize that radical intrinsically privation to link globally. So, arsenic Metaverse architects, we purpose to devise new, innovative ways to unite radical successful engaging, human-centered experiences that are not conscionable constricted to looking astatine a gathering oregon space, which tin supply existent intent and value. In summation to the almost-limitless originative possibilities successful gathering immersive virtual worlds, the plan of virtual spaces and interactions volition specify caller aspects of societal behaviors that could adjacent pb to monolithic enactment and planetary impact. In this case, creativity and work spell manus successful hand.

2D DALL·E outputs transformed into 3D virtual architecture

DB: As you mentioned successful your MetaWeek keynote speech, you person present transitioned into the virtual realm aft practicing arsenic a accepted designer and decorator for galore years. Can you archer america a spot much astir your latest task — your Metaverse startup, VIIRA?

PV: With VIIRA, we are focused connected playing a pivotal relation successful shaping the aboriginal by providing platforms and tools to physique the Metaverse of tomorrow. Our archetypal attack is focused connected Art and Culture, moving with some accepted and digital-native individuals and institutions to make their Web3 beingness integrated with blockchain, NFTs, and DeFi.

We are successful the process of gathering the archetypal 3D-NFT marketplace focused connected interactive and co-created creation and design. We judge that the Metaverse, done its plan and technology, volition supply a caller attack for artists and brands to explicit their enactment arsenic good arsenic link with their fans and customers. Therefore, it is captious to supply a spot that tin build, showcase, and commercialized these caller forms of expressions, including animations, interactive and generative art.

We are moving with caller and upcoming artists arsenic good arsenic salient museums, grammy-winning artists, and luxury brands. And arsenic portion of educating a larger ecosystem, we service arsenic advisors for aggregate Fortune 500 companies and startups connected their Metaverse imaginativeness and strategy centered astir innovation, community, and planetary impact.

Sensory Experience Portals

DB: What factors and parameters differentiate however we physique carnal spaces compared to virtual ones?

PV: The determining factors for the carnal spaces are the availability of onshore and materials to physique and biology requirements. In virtual realms, instead, our parameters are determined by our desired idiosyncratic experience, engagements, and use-case application. While buildings fulfill the astir basal quality needs similar structure and security, architecture impacts the affectional authorities of immoderate idiosyncratic who interacts with it.

Architecture successful the Metaverse is much than a static building. It is much similar processing ‘live-architecture’ — combining spatial design, cinematography, animated integer content, storytelling, and guided experiences with gamification and interactivity. Here, for Metaverse architects, the simplest is to plan virtual buildings and cities by mimicking what we know. Think integer doubles oregon crippled worlds, wherever spaces travel our ain rules and physics.

Ombiia: an immersive theatre acquisition successful the Metaverse

But past imagine, what aspects of our virtual spaces and buildings bash not request to travel those pre-standing rules? For example, successful a virtual setting, we tin teleport instantaneously betwixt spaces, and the virtual real-time renderings of our designed surroundings volition adapt. Hence, without real-life rules oregon restrictions specified arsenic gravity, structural stability, climatic issues, oregon carnal laws — unless programmed — architects person the state to flooded the existing conditions and make exceptional, perpetually evolving environments and authentic experiences arsenic art.

For example, ideate a assemblage accumulation successful a Metaverse space. Rather than replicating what exists successful a carnal version, it tin beryllium a 360 immersive grounds wherever the idiosyncratic is not conscionable witnessing oregon observing the artworks but besides interacting and experiencing the full exhibition. Multiple artworks tin beryllium wrong a azygous space, which tin beryllium programmed to beryllium unsocial for each idiosyncratic and their in-space idiosyncratic behavior.