Everything You Need to Know about the Metaverse in Architecture

The Metaverse is a hot topic today, ever since Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg mentioned it in October 2021. Ever since then, everything started investigating the concept and trying to imagine our lives captured by it. 

Different areas from the metaverse are connected to the architecture and design. We'll tell you more about it below, but first, let's understand the concept of the metaverse. 

What is the metaverse?

The metaverse is a virtual world that includes different forms of communication such as virtual reality, 3D holographic avatars, augmented reality, videos, and other channels. By way of the metaverse, users have the opportunity to "live their lives" in a digital world and interact with each other through avatars and virtual reality technologies.

The metaverse is inevitable, photo source: finshots.com

The concept of metaverse was first used in "Second Life" and "Roblox" games. The first game offers players the opportunity to create a second life in a virtual environment. There they can explore amazing landscapes, build castles, forests and so on. However, the metaverse became widely known when Mark Zuckerberg declared that the metaverse is the future of social networks. 

How does the metaverse influence architects?

Architects have a significant contribution to creating inspired projects in the metaverse. As time goes on, traditional architecture will merge with the metaverse, so architects working in the virtual environment will no longer only design the buildings in which we carry out our daily activities, but will also deal with form, geometry, and imagery in the metaverse. 

The digitalization of universities is a reality, photo source: adobe.com

According to experts, architects designing in the metaverse will need to do 3D modeling, integrating professional knowledge in several areas, including user interface, content, and character design. This will have an impact on the universities’ training programs, considering the need to update them with digital media and new technologies classes. 

In an interview for eurourbanism.ro, parametric-architecture.com declared that the metaverse can be a new frontier in architectural preservation. "Because many buildings have collapsed due to natural or man-made disasters, the metaverse could be the platform to preserve buildings in this digital reality for the sake of future generations. It can be seen as a way to express and explore the architectural heritage that allows online users to have an engaging interaction with their surroundings and each other. 

Differences between metaverse and architecture

The first thing is the space itself because "standard" architecture assumes a physical interaction with your space. At the same time, the metaverse has no rules, nor restrictions, such as gravity, building structure, and climatic issues that influence the designs. As a result, architects are free to choose and design buildings.

The architecture will not remain the only domain trapped in Metaverse, photo source: insidetelecom.com

Another essential difference is the ambience shaped with enhanced audio-video effects. Plus, the final difference, is the deadline. If "standard" architecture required time to erect a building, in the metaverse, the whole project requires the same amount of time and effort. 

What are the benefits and drawbacks of metaverse architecture?

One of the benefits is that in the metaverse, customers have the opportunity to inhabit the designed project and assess their needs, before actually building the project. One of the drawbacks is a huge time spent online, which can be damaging in the long run. 

One of the most recent and interesting projects is PUBG Mobile with Zaha Hadid Architects, a virtual environment designed to offer fresh experiences to worldwide players.

Metaverse is the future of social media, photo source: pexels.com

In terms of Metaverse architecture, it is essential to understand that the only way to evolve is by keeping up with the latest trends. For example, the millions of dollars spent for NFTs, so that architects and interior designers can display their works, and take advantage of commerce, brand building, and profit opportunities.