In this year’s VR class, I learned about virtual reality by designing my own buildings in Arkio. We used the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals as a guide for our projects, which helped me understand the environmental challenges our world faces and how technology can help solve them.
One of the interesting parts of the class was learning to create buildings online. We explored Arkio, a digital design tool that let us create our structures before they are actually built. Using virtual reality, we tried out different architectural styles and layouts, seeing how our designs could impact the environment and the community. This hands-on experience showed me how important sustainability is in design.
Each UN goal inspired different projects we worked on. For example, we came up with ideas for affordable housing for low-income families, focusing not just on innovative designs but also on what economic factors would make these projects possible. We also aimed to design energy-efficient buildings that use resources wisely while having a minimal environmental impact. It felt great to see how our ideas could contribute to positive changes and encourage communities to adopt sustainable practices.
Working in groups was a key part of our learning. It let us share different opinions on complex social issues such as jail and how areas should be separated, which helped deepen our understanding of development. We often discussed how architects and urban planners can support the UN goals, leading to important conversations about adding renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines to our city. We realized that design should consider not just looks but also community well-being and environmental friendliness.
I was also intrigued by how different viewpoints shaped our projects. For example, when we talked about urban planning, we recognized that feedback from community members could lead to designs that are more welcoming and useful. Learning to engage with classmates showed the importance of understanding others’ perspectives in the design process. I learned that a well-designed building should not only meet practical needs but also reflect the values and needs of the people who will use it.
Overall, this VR class changed how I view architecture and its ability to solve real-world problems. It helped me realize that virtual reality is a way to explore and find solutions to environmental issues in cities. Moving forward, I feel inspired to keep exploring how sustainable design can create a better world.