User-Centred Spatial Thinking in Architectural Design with Mixed Reality

Abstract

We present the findings from an architecture seminar where students used heads-up mixed reality devices to design from the users' perspective. The aims of the course were to 1) help students design user-oriented spaces; 2) allow students to experience a design-analysis feedback loop; and 3) test the feasibility and effectiveness of using mixed reality in the architecture curriculum. The course required students to apply advanced spatial thinking, and so course content was specifically-developed to challenge students' spatial thinking. We present findings on the merit of using mixed reality for user-centric design based on i) student feedback and ii) a linguistic analysis of how students presented their work. Findings show that the use of mixed reality improved students' capacity to design from the users' perspective. While there is still much untapped potential for including mixed reality in architecture courses, technical difficulties are to be expected.