Form followed function in the modernist era. Form followed fiction in the contemporary era. The form will follow whatever we want it to be in the Metaverse era. Architecture in the metaverse is all about form, and there are no more regulations, engineering, or even gravity. Architects can now unleash their creativity to shape the world of fantasy. But, as the Metaverse is unfolding, everyone can build their universe out of their imagination. It raises the question- “What is the role of architects in the metaverse if everyone can build?”. Is the Metaverse for architects- an opportunity or a vanity?

What is Metaverse?

Metaverse is an overhyped buzzword for almost a year now. Metaverse is defined as the future iteration of the internet, which shifts our interactions from 2d screens to  3d environments. It is said to be a multi-trillion opportunity that will affect every part of our daily lives. Whatever it may be, Metaverse has come. As the technologies accelerate the convergence of the physical and the digital world, we, as architects, will need to stay a step ahead.

Metaverse has already been here in many forms as VR headsets, immersive video games, Peloton screens, and futuristic Tesla dashboards. But, with the advent of the metaverse as a 3D immersive social network, we shall be able to develop entirely new universes with new cultures and new communities. 

Physical Space vs Metaspace

Physical space is the space in which we live and engage in activities of day-to-day life. Metaspace is the virtual world of interactions that transcend these physical boundaries. Individual involvement in pursuing a goal in the metaspace may be more important than the speed with which they reach their goal in the physical world. For example, in a physical space, you can interact with your colleagues in a zoom call or a google meet, in a second, through 2D computer screens.

Whereas, the metaspace or metaverse allows your interaction to be more immersive and they meet their friends in the 3D virtual environments. These virtual worlds incorporate augmented reality, virtual reality, 3D holographic avatars, and all other forms of communication. Users in the metaverse live in a digital realm, engaging with one another through virtual avatars. They can live parallel lives in the metaverse, mimicking the physical world.

Metaspace ranges from a recreation of the real world into a 3d environment to completely new universes that come out of our wild imagination. In a physical space, whether you interact with the space or not, it exists in the natural environment. But, in the metaspace every space has a reason to be built and has a story to tell. Architects in the physical world have many limitations, such as bylaws, climatic conditions, structural stability, etc., to deal with. In the metaverse, architects have the freedom to overcome these constraints and create exceptional spaces.

 “All the physical spaces we (architects) design- buildings, interiors, campuses, and cities are already born as metaspaces, and we call them 3D models”, says Brian Jencek, Director of Planning, HOK, San Franciso. And we are already using tools that virtual designers use, such as Unity, Twin motion, and Blender to create realistic environments. Hence, architects and designers are geared toward building spaces on metaverse. 

Architects vs Meta architects

People require places in the Metaverse and so architects have a significant role in designing and enhancing these spaces. But what we count as architects in the metaverse may change over time, as there is a substantial shift in the perspective between the architects of the real world and the metaverse. We will see a distinction in title between an architect and a meta architect.

An architect is building shelter for the day-to-day activities, whereas a meta architect will be designing forms and geometries to enhance the visuals. To be a meta architect, one has to reskill themselves and integrate their professional knowledge in multiple fields, including user interface, game design, character design, and content design. For example, a meta architect need not provide beds or toilets. Rather, She/he needs to check for the doors of the rooms to open and the noise they make as they open.

As there is a growing trend in the metaverse, architects should start monitoring the patterns and needs of this virtual world and frame its design standards. It is said that we can only build up to 20m on one 16m² plot, which then increases depending on how many plots we have. This is because too large a file size would struggle to load on metaverse with the existing technology. This is why the images look pixelated for those who use hyper-realistic renders.

Metaverse for Architects: An opportunity or a vanity

As said earlier, with the changing times, anyone with a wild imagination and creativity can build in the metaverse with the help of developers. And already game developers are increasingly working towards building in the metaverse. It seems to leave the role of real-world architects at stake. 

Research by videogame urbanism shows that while designing a virtual world gives people a creative voice, it can also reveal the infinitely more complex social, societal, and historical ways by which physical places are formed. Even though Metaverse is all about imagination and is an escape from realism, societal troubles still exist.

We shall not, as in the computer games, render 3d drawings and enhance the user experiences in a metaverse. That is where the role of architects becomes vital, as they have long been the members of the society who care about the socio-cultural consideration of the communities. Hence, it is the role of the architect to ensure an inclusive and equitable virtual world in the metaverse.

Similarly, Architect’s design spaces with emotion and purpose. And it is the real world humans who experience the spaces in the metaverse. Hence, in the metaverse, there is a dire need for designers who design for purpose and emotions, and who know it better than architects.

Emerging technologies provide opportunities for the architects to meet the client in a virtual avatar inside the proposed building and make changes along with the client in real-time. It also allows designers from all over the world to collaborate in a hologram, to come up with the best ideas. The virtual world also becomes significant in reducing the physical transportation and construction of real-world buildings, leading to a reduction in fuel and resource consumption.

Further, the metaverse would also be a new frontier in architecture conservation. Since many buildings are destroyed by natural calamities, Metaverse can be an opportunity to recreate the historical and heritage buildings in a virtual immersive environment for future generations. Hence, Metaverse is the powerhouse of opportunities for the architects and it is in no way a vanity if we understand its universe.

Architecting a better metaverse

Mark JP Wolf, in his book ‘Building Imaginary Worlds’, says that fictional worlds often “use Primary World [i.e. real world] defaults for many things, despite all the defaults they may reset”. It is that as the metaverse is built from scratch, we do not have to refer to the physical world technically. And Metaverse is not about creating a virtual replica of the real world. They need to extend and harness the real-world experience, which makes them different from the physical spaces.

For example, a stadium that floats in the air with the audience around the field in every direction- up, down, and everywhere could be a better metaverse. Another example is the augmentation of real-life experiences. A live concert could accommodate millions to attend with 3d avatars and interact with each other in the virtual world. 

Companies such as Metaverse Architects, ILLUSSOR, Decentraland Architects, and renowned architects such as ZHA and BIG have already started architecting the metaverse. Real cities are moving towards the metaverse to enhance the experience of their people. South Korea’s Metaverse 120 center is planning to provide recreational and administrative facilities in the metaverse, as a part of the nation’s digital infrastructure.

As architects, we should take the responsibility of designing a better metaverse. We should make the Metaverse so accessible and engaging to the people that they often return to. Simply transplanting the real-world logic of trading and real estate into the virtual world does not only undermine the immense potential of the metaverse but also might recreate the social and economic stratification of the real world. Taking all into consideration, at last, the metaverse depends mostly on how well the spaces are designed. Thus, architects are going to be at the forefront of the metaverse in designing these spaces.