Future

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Imagine being able to explore your new apartment, move your furniture around, and change the entire design palette at the click of a button. Thanks to the innovative technology of Virtual Reality (VR) and the talented team behind BVN REAL, apartment floorplans are being brought to life, with several buyers already trialing the product.

The cutting-edge new VR production studio named BVN REAL is a subsidiary business of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/bvn-architecture-0">award-winning architectural design firm BVN</a> and is led by creative director Barry Dineen and a team of highly skilled Game Developer Designers, 3D Visualisation Artists, VR Experience Developers, and Experience Designers. The product took four years to build and has already won the coveted 'Unreal Award' in 2018 (prior to the public launch) as well as receiving two other nominations in The AEC Excellence Awards.

<blockquote>
“Right now, people need to interpret, imagine, and visualise their future home using architectural drawings, plans, and 3D renders of the space. With VR they can actually step into their future for themselves and feel what it is like to be there. 

Our VR experiences give people the confidence to know that what they are seeing is exactly what they are going to get. It’s building trust and reducing the risk involved in one of the biggest purchases of buyers lives.”
</blockquote>

Barry Dineen, Creative Director at BVN REAL 

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BVN REAL creative director Barry Dineen humbly acknowledged that although previous iterations of the technology were not taken to immediately, perseverance and user research led the team to focus in on how people authentically engage with VR.

<blockquote>
“The result is a powerfully immersive experience designed expressly for human interaction. A lot of developers and sales teams have dismissed VR because they tried a VR experience that was not designed with human behaviour at its core. When they try BVN REAL’s experiences there is an “ah-ha” moment where they see the true potential for VR for themselves.”
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/bvn_real_immersive.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Users experiencing VR in the studio"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/bvn_real_immersive.jpg?itok=1y6l8TwQ" title="Users experiencing VR in the studio" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Users experiencing VR in the studio</figcaption></figure>INTUITIVE FEATURES INTEGRATED WITHIN BVN REAL

<ol>
<li>Users can instantly move between different apartment configurations and floorplans to compare options on offer</li>
	<li>Users have the ability to configure the space in real-time
	<blockquote>
	“Our experiences allow them to try out different materials and finishes options, change out furniture and fittings to their taste, or even strip it back to the empty shell so that they can get a better feeling for the space itself.”
	</blockquote>

	Barry Dineen, Creative Director at BVN REAL
	</li>
	<li>A realistic sunlight system enables users to experience the property at all times of the day</li>
	<li>All elements of the apartments virtually function the way they would in real life
	<blockquote>
	“A major goal of any VR experience is presence – feeling like you are actually in that place. When a user tries to turn on a tap and the tap does nothing, they are reminded that they are in a virtual environment. 

	We want the technology to disappear so that they can truly appreciate the design of a space. At first adding running taps felt like a novelty but over time we have grown to realise the importance of reacting to people’s input.”
	</blockquote>

	Barry Dineen, Creative Director at BVN REAL

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</li>
	<li>BVN REAL experiences are often ‘multiplayer’ because people feel more relaxed and comfortable when sharing the virtual experience with another real person. Currently, an avatar is used to represent those in the VR simulation with you
	<blockquote>
	“Realistically not many people are buying apartments on their own so we are trying to replicate what would happen if the apartment already existed. People walk around together a discuss the features and amenities. What really amazes us in our VR experiences is how many important conversations happen in the bathroom - even when the VR is situated on the 83rd floor of Sydney’s highest residential building with amazing views over the city.”
	</blockquote>

	Barry Dineen, Creative Director at BVN REAL

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</li>
	<li>Sales agents can join in at any stage to answer any questions live from within the VR simulation</li>
</ol>
HOW VR CAN PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY IN THE OFF-THE-PLAN MARKET

In concurrence with Barry Dineen’s sentiment about VR giving buyers the ability to see a home before they buy it, BVN Co-CEO Neil Logan explains that it also helps provide more transparency and helps advocate for better built outcomes.

<blockquote>
“VR has radically changed the way we communicate design. What was once opaque to many is now transparent and easily digestible. It has facilitated better understanding of design intent and has provided the opportunity for better built outcomes. 

We are proud to make this service available to broader markets. In doing this we believe that we are contributing to the design of a better future”.
</blockquote>

BVN co-CEO Neil Logan

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/penthouse_hero.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Penthouse apart VR "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="426" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/penthouse_hero.jpg?itok=GpWjXi6N" title="Penthouse apart VR " width="680"></a>

<figcaption>Penthouse apart VR</figcaption></figure>WHAT’S INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF A VIRTUAL WALKTHROUGH

A typical 3-bedroom apartment takes approximately 2 to 4 weeks to develop. Often architects will use BIM to build their designs in 3D, making it easier to prepare each design component for the gaming software used to create the virtual reality experience (BVN REAL use Unreal Engine from Epic Games).

Designers will also supply the BVN REAL team with imagery of the fixtures, finishes, and furniture, which will be used to populate the VR design.

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WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF BVN REAL LOOK LIKE?

Virtual Reality’s capabilities extend far beyond unbuilt architecture. Not only is BVN REAL exploring VR within our current reality, but also within purely virtual worlds that will never exist in our own. In the past, the team has created Makerspaces which allow school students to build and launch full-size rockets.

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Creative Director Barry has grand ideas for the future of BVN REAL, such as developing the world’s largest museum/gallery.

<blockquote>
“I really want to develop the worlds biggest museum/gallery as a virtual place that people can visit that allows us to do things and see things that we could never do or see in the real world – and it would be accessible to everyone.”
</blockquote>

Barry Dineen, Creative Director at BVN REAL 

We look forward to following the progress of BVN REAL’s exciting future developments with the VR architecture space.

 

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Olivia Round

Introducing BVN REAL: Off-the-plan virtual reality house viewings are here

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Move aside electric cars, another disruption set to occur in the next decade is being ignored in current <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-18/coalition-says-it-is-not-anti-electric-cars/11029222" target="_blank">Australian transport infrastructure debates</a>: electric aviation.
Electric aircraft technology is rapidly developing <a href="https://www.magnix.aero/about-us/">locally</a> and overseas, with the aim of potentially <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/electric-planes-promise-big-benefits-air-passengers-planet-ncna862001" target="_blank">reducing emissions and operating costs by over 75%</a>. Other countries are already <a href="http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180814-norways-plan-for-a-fleet-of-electric-planes" target="_blank">planning for 100% electric short-haul plane fleets</a> within a couple of decades.
Australia relies heavily on air transport. The country has the <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/airports-2019/draft/airports-draft-overview.pdf" target="_blank">most domestic airline seats per person</a> in the world. We have also witnessed flight <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/airports-2019/issues/airports-issues.pdf" target="_blank">passenger numbers double</a> over the past 20 years.
Infrastructure projects are typically planned 20 or more years ahead. This makes it more important than ever that we start to adopt a disruptive lens in planning. It’s time to start accounting for electric aviation if we are to capitalise on its potential economic and environmental benefits.
What can these aircraft do?
There are <a href="https://mashable.com/feature/electric-airplanes-future-flight/#ZR4G.vl9cZq3" target="_blank">two main types</a> of electric aircraft: <a href="https://www.harbourair.com/harbour-air-and-magnix-partner-to-build-worlds-first-all-electric-airline/" target="_blank">short-haul planes</a> and vertical take-off and landing (<a href="https://lilium.com/" target="_blank">VTOL</a>) vehicles, including <a href="https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/News/passenger-carrying-drones-now-reality" target="_blank">drones</a>.
The key issue affecting the uptake of electric aircraft is the need to ensure enough <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612351/top-battery-scientists-have-a-plan-to-electrify-flight-and-slash-airline-emissions/" target="_blank">battery energy density</a> to support commercial flights. While some <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-arent-there-electric-airplanes-yet-103955" target="_blank">major impediments</a> are still to be overcome, we are likely to see short-haul electric flights locally before 2030. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-04/first-electric-plane-passenger-flights-in-australia-to-rottnest/9304424" target="_blank">Small, two-to-four-seat, electric planes</a> are already <a href="https://particle.scitech.org.au/tech/aussie-first-electric-plane-takes-to-wa-skies/" target="_blank">flying in Australia today</a>.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_UhOYtq1_Ag?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" width="440" height="260"></iframe>
An electric plane service has been launched in Perth.
A scan of global electric aircraft development suggests rapid advancements are likely over the coming decade. By 2022, <a href="https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/siemens-to-supply-motors-for-eviations-all-electric-airplanes" target="_blank">nine-seat planes</a> could be doing short-haul <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-27/electric-passenger-planes-four-years-away-says-tech-firm/10401950" target="_blank">(500-1,000km)</a> flights. <a href="https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/easyjet-outlines-progress-on-electric-jet-453088/" target="_blank">Before 2030</a>, small-to-medium <a href="https://electrek.co/2018/10/29/electric-flying-is-becoming-a-reality-says-easyjet-ceo-electric-plane/" target="_blank">150-seat planes</a> could be flying up to 500 kilometres. Short-range (<a href="https://www.dezeen.com/2019/01/28/boeing-autonomous-passenger-drone-flying-car/">100</a>-<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2019/01/14/bell-nexus-vtol-air-taxi-makes-a-splash-at-2019-consumer-electronics-show/#2c8801fb2e31" target="_blank">250 km</a>) VTOL aircraft could also become viable in the 2020s.
If these breakthroughs occur, we could see <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170405005365/en/Zunum-Aero-Developing-Hybrid-Electric-Aircraft-Fast-Affordable" target="_blank">small, commercial, electric aircraft</a> operating on some of Australia’s busiest air routes, including Sydney-Melbourne or Brisbane, as well as opening up new, cost-effective travel routes to and from regional Australia.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/267813/original/file-20190405-180014-57189i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/267813/original/file-20190405-180014-57189i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Possible short-haul electric aircraft ranges of 500km and 1,000km around Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Author provided
Why go electric?
In addition to new export opportunities, as shown by <a href="https://thedriven.io/2019/04/22/australias-magnix-chosen-to-power-eviation-electric-aircraft/%E2%80%8B">MagniX</a>, electric aviation could greatly reduce the financial and environmental costs of air transport in Australia.
Two major <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">components of current airline costs</a> are fuel (27%) and maintenance (11%). Electric aircraft could deliver <a href="https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/eviation-secures-funding-for-all-electric-alice-454830/" target="_blank">significant price reductions</a> through reduced energy and maintenance costs.
Short-haul electric aircraft are particularly compelling given the inherent energy efficiency, simplicity and longevity of the battery-powered motor and drivetrain. No alternative fuel sources can deliver the same level of savings.
With conventional planes, a high-passenger, high-frequency model comes with a limiting <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361920912000703" target="_blank">environmental cost</a> of burning fuel. Smaller electric aircraft can avoid the fuel costs and emissions resulting from high-frequency service models. This can lead to increased competition between airlines and between airports, further lowering costs.
What are the implications of this disruption?
Air transport is generally organised in combinations of <a href="https://aeronauticsonline.com/the-airline-economics-of-the-bicycle-wheel-point-to-point-vs-hub-and-spoke-flying/" target="_blank">hub-and-spoke or point-to-point models</a>. Smaller, more energy-efficient planes <a href="https://blueswandaily.com/the-route-revolution-how-next-generation-aircraft-are-transforming-global-route-maps/" target="_blank">encourage point-to-point flights</a>, which can also be the spokes on long-haul hub models. This means electric aircraft could lead to higher-frequency services, enabling more competitive point-to-point flights, and <a href="https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/bitstream/handle/10072/56018/89299_1.pdf;sequence=1" target="_blank">increase the dispersion of air services</a> to smaller airports.
While benefiting smaller airports, electric aircraft could also improve the efficiency of some larger constrained airports.
For example, Australia’s largest airport, Sydney Airport, is <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/airports-2019/draft/airports-draft-overview.pdf" target="_blank">efficient in both operations and costs</a>. However, due to noise and pollution, physical and regulatory constraints – mainly aircraft movement caps and a curfew – can lead to congestion. With a significant number of sub-1,000km flights originating from Sydney, low-noise, zero-emission, electric aircraft could overcome some of these constraints, increasing airport efficiency and lowering costs.
The increased availability of short-haul, affordable air travel could actively compete with other transport services, including <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967070X11000837" target="_blank">high-speed rail</a> (HSR). Alternatively, if the planning of HSR projects takes account of electric aviation, these services could improve connectivity at regional rail hubs. This could strengthen the business cases for HSR projects by reducing the number of stops and travel times, and increasing overall network coverage.
What about air freight?
Electric aircraft could also help air freight. International air freight volumes have <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/airports-2019/draft/airports-draft-overview.pdf" target="_blank">increased by 80% in the last 20 years</a>. Electric aircraft provide an opportunity to efficiently transport high-value products to key regional transport hubs, as well as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-and-ups-are-betting-big-on-drone-delivery-2018-3/?r=AU&amp;IR=T" target="_blank">directly to consumers via VTOL vehicles or drones</a>.
If properly planned, electric aviation could complement existing freight services, including <a href="https://www.dezeen.com/2017/02/23/ups-drone-launching-delivery-truck-design-technology-news/" target="_blank">road</a>, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/26/volans-i-drones-can-haul-cargo-for-500-miles-and-land-on-a-moving-ship" target="_blank">sea</a> and air services. This would reduce the overall cost of transporting high-value goods.
Plan now for the coming disruption
Electric aircraft could significantly disrupt short-haul air transport within the next decade. How quickly will this technology affect conventional infrastructure? It is difficult to say given the many unknown factors. The uncertainties include step-change technologies, such as <a href="https://www.maketecheasier.com/solid-state-batteries/" target="_blank">solid-state batteries</a>, that could radically accelerate the uptake and capabilities of electric aircraft.
What we do know today is that Australia is already struggling with disruptive technological changes in energy, telecommunications and even other transport segments. These challenges highlight the need to start taking account of disruptive technology when planning infrastructure. Where we see <a href="https://about.bnef.com/blog/energy-storage-620-billion-investment-opportunity-2040/" target="_blank">billions of dollars being invested</a> in technological transformation, we need to assume disruption is coming.
With electric aircraft we have some time to prepare, so let’s not fall behind the eight ball again – as has <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/huge-problem-with-car-prices-too-few-affordable-electric-vehicles-in-australia/news-story/64a87eb32a4a8d8c2fdc9664420058eb" target="_blank">happened with electric cars</a> – and start to plan ahead.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jake-whitehead-3312" target="_blank">Jake Whitehead</a>, Research Fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805" target="_blank">The University of Queensland</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-kane-442924" target="_blank">Michael Kane</a>, Research Associate, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/curtin-university-873" target="_blank">Curtin University</a>
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/get-set-for-take-off-in-electric-aircraft-the-next-transport-disruption-114178" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Get set for take-off in electric aircraft, the next transport disruption

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Before you knock down your kitchen walls to increase the value of your home with an open plan, have a think about this: the closed off kitchen could make a comeback in future years, according to Secret Agents’ latest bulletin report.
Trendsetting architects are returning to pre-war designs where kitchen and entertainment areas are separated. There is an emerging market for this kind of home.
Many parents who have raised their family in an open plan kitchen would understand that, whilst great for inclusion, there are certain drawbacks to a lack of four walls.
There is no escaping the noise from the television, no way of treating cooking as a peaceful experience, and no way to hide the mess that the kids leave on the dining table from plain sight. Further, when guests come over, it is often impossible to get them to move to the living room.
A closed off kitchen allows the user to relax in a calming environment and momentarily retreat from the chaos of raising a family. It is also great for those who don’t want to be on show the entire time when guests come over.
Layout aside, the future kitchen from a technological standpoint is looking bright. We might even begin to see chef-less kitchens. In fact, that future is not too far away.
Moley, the world’s first robotic kitchen, is currently being crowdfunded for a launch in 2018. The company hopes to sell Moley for a price comparable to the average cost of kitchen refurbishment, around $46,000AUD.
“In more realistic terms however, Secret Agent believes that the evolution of the near-future kitchen will be less of a romantic tech fantasy,” the report stated.
Technology will not cook for us, but it will do what it does best for humanity: automate the mundane and menial, while enhancing the core experience. There is still joy to be had in cooking for yourself.
“Expect in-built Apple or Google devices in your kitchen hardware and smarter appliances. Maybe a countertop touchscreen (not voice activated, because let’s face it - we wouldn’t want Siri’s attitude in the kitchen) that retrieves your favourite recipe at your command, prompting instructions according to the preparation time. No more scrolling through recipes on your phone or tablet with your grubby, greasy hands mid-way through preparing food. No more overcooked roast chicken,” the report suggested.
Imagine a more seamless workflow, with taps switching on automatically and fridge doors that open as you approach.
Range-hoods that adjust their setting according to the intensity of your cooking. The less you need to touch, the less there is to clean.
There will be more time for enjoying the food you’ve made and the company around you, and less time required to do the actual cooking.
Many of these technologies already exist. Yet until smart home technology becomes ubiquitous and accessible to every household, it remains a future for most of us.
Humans have been cooking since the beginning of time, and it’s not about to change just because we can make robots cook like a chef.
Perhaps the best version of a kitchen we can look forward to is one that cleans itself. Now, that’s something worth developing.
Kitchen layouts can generally be divided into 4 shapes: I, L, II and U, according to Secret Agent’s latest bulletin report.
“Secret Agent thought it would be interesting to take a sample of properties in a niche market of Melbourne and find out which kitchen layouts were most popular. Since we deal with a lot of period homes within inner Melbourne, 507 Victorian and Edwardian terrace houses from this region were selected for the comparison. The houses were all sold in 2016. Regardless of the layout, on average, kitchens were found to be approximately 12sqm in size. The rest of our findings are shown on the right,” the report stated.
I (Single wall kitchen)
• By far this is the least common configuration amongst terrace houses, only present in about 6% of homes. However, Secret Agent notes that this is highly popular in new one and two bedroom apartments and studios with limited internal space.
• This layout is usually found in dwellings with limited floor space, as it usually shares its circulation path with other areas of the house.
• The work triangle doesn’t exist, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to cook! However, this kitchen type usually accommodates only one person cooking at a time.
<a href="/images/2016/11/08/Single%20wall%20kitchen.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/08/Single%20wall%20kitchen.jpg" alt="">
• Due to the lack of counter space, the dining table often doubles up as additional work room. Mobile kitchen islands are also a convenient alternative.
• The single wall layout may suit those who don’t cook often or spend much time in the kitchen, as it offers the bare minimum utility while occupying the least amount of space. You’ll also have your back to your guests when cooking, which isn’t a very sociable gesture.
• Some of these kitchens are also designed to be hidden behind sliding or pocket doors to minimise visual clutter.
II, or “Gallery” (Parallel benchtops)
• This kitchen layout accounts for just under a fifth of the homes studied. Taking its name from the galleys (kitchens) of ships and airplanes, this layout is common in commercial kitchens for its highly efficient nature.
• Essentially, this is a single wall kitchen with a benchtop island, or two parallel single wall kitchens. The former is a more social option due to the island, with the latter having limited face-to-face interaction with guests.
<a href="/images/2016/11/08/Parallel%20benchtops.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/08/Parallel%20benchtops.jpg" alt="">
• Depending on the size of the kitchen, this II-layout allows more than one person to work comfortably in the kitchen.
• Foot traffic in galley kitchens can be disruptive, depending on the distance between both counters. Ideally, it should be between 1.2m to 1.6m, with greater widths making it inconvenient to walk back and forth. Anything narrower than the minimum suggested would restrict movement with more than one person in the kitchen, particularly when opening drawers and ovens.
L-shaped
• Just under a fifth of the homes observed had this kitchen layout.
• The work triangle does not have any obstructions in the path, and can comfortably fit two persons cooking.
• Similar to the I-layout, the L also commonly shares its circulation space with the dining area or a corridor. It is a more flexible option that suits any room size, while offering an improved workflow from the simpler I-layout.
<a href="/images/2016/11/08/L%20kitchens.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/08/L%20kitchens.jpg" alt="">
• In open plan homes, it lacks the social connection with the living and dining areas, as you will still have your back to your guests.
• Instead of adding an island (turning this into a U-layout), some may prefer to have a regular dining table nearby. This way, it provides an all-round dining surface, as opposed to an island which only provides seating on one side.
U-shaped
• This is the most common kitchen type, making up two- thirds of all the terraces we looked at. We have also included what most would call the “G-shape” or “L-shape with island” as part of this group for simplicity, as it has the same wrap-around, three-sided layout.
• The U-shape offers the most flexibility and variation, on top of being a highly social configuration. It suits both smaller and larger homes, in both open plan and closed plan layouts.
• This kitchen type is divided into zones (casual dining, preparing, cooking, cleaning), as opposed to a proper work triangle, allowing multiple people to work in the kitchen at any one time.
<a href="/images/2016/11/08/U%20kitchens.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/08/U%20kitchens.jpg" alt="">
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