CESAR FRAGACHAN: We are presenting to you today
an overview of platform design and game engine technology at Zaha Hadid
Architects to deliver engaging interactive spatial experiences
for clients and consumers.
HENRY LOUTH: The computation and design group
is a practice-embedded research team focusing
on creating computational geometry and building strategic partnerships
to bridge industry advances toward project-based applications.
We incorporate these advances into workflows at Zaha Hadid Architects
to address issues of sustainable development of the built
environment.
CESAR FRAGACHAN: Shifting design thinking
to integrate game technologies and platform development
has empowered our capacity to disrupt conventional procurement processes
and bring together stakeholders to deliver high value, locally
relevant, resource-effective supply-chain integrated design
solutions for residential living.
HENRY LOUTH: There are several problems
faced in architectural and construction industries
for which game technologies are particularly
well-suited to negotiate.
Construction projects take years from conception to occupation,
during the course of which markets fluctuate,
resulting in misalignments to the consumer base
they were originally intended.
Similarly, the priorities of key stakeholders,
including regulators, developers, operators, and occupiers,
in addition to architects and engineers,
is often competing, resulting in delays requiring alignment
and compromise for success.
The Beyabu Residential Configurator is the latest
build in a lineage of residential platforms developed at Zaha Hadid
Architects, with Epic and Unreal Engine offering investors,
occupiers, and developers ways to configure properties to suit
individual preferences, offering ability to position units,
configure add-ons to the envelope, and customize the interior space
layout and fittings, as well.
Monetizing such features as AR and development rights
in the process to configure modular building components in real time
using a web-based application.
CESAR FRAGACHAN: The configurator leverages real-time ray
tracing technology to achieve the highest
level of visual fidelity for both the interior and exterior of the units.
Additionally, pixel streaming enables us to share the configurator
experience with clients and with the use of custom frameworks
to maintain non-destructive workflows with designers.
HENRY LOUTH: Platform design offers clients
a universe of feasible variations at their fingertips.
For instance, there are over 2,200 ways
to configure a custom resident in the Honduras Configurator.
We have developed and curated a cohesive digital kit
of parts that result in vibrant and diverse residential communities.
Exteriors and facade kits are created fit for place.
The platform approach offers local construction companies,
building trades, and local crafts persons
to benefit from an infusion of digital technologies
into the economy.
CESAR FRAGACHAN: Platform design and architecture, engineering,
and construction helps to test fit, simulate,
and explore scenarios to design market-tested, demand-driven
solutions.
The configurator can be used socially to curate a community,
to accommodate the peculiar spatial needs of family members,
invite friends, and connect to like-minded individuals
or to share resources and costs with neighbors.
HENRY LOUTH: Health, well-being, and protection of the environment
are fundamental to the platform approach,
providing consumers with local and renewable materials,
such as sustainable lightweight FSC timber in structure and cladding
options, as well as pre-fabrication off-site and technology integration,
reducing waste and the total carbon footprint of the schemes.
CESAR FRAGACHAN: One of the challenges
we face has been interface and experience design.
Developing device actions, storyboarding, heads-up display,
and sequence behavior to maintain a seamless,
immersive gameplay typically prevalent in gaming environments.
HENRY LOUTH: At Zaha Hadid Architects,
our workflow is tuned to realize complex geometry
as fabrication-optimized and manufacture-ready.
We continue to develop lightweight control mechanisms
and retain live geometry as long as possible
to empower design, interaction, and exploration.
However, game technologies pose distinct real-time optimization
criteria for content creation, management, .
And version control to prepare geometry for the real-time pipeline.
We are taking steps towards multiplayer modes of play
and distributed gameplay models to capture
real-time decisions of human actors in a digital marketplace
for real estate bidding, negotiation, and property valuation.
CESAR FRAGACHAN: The value of interactivity and occupier
engagement in the design process resulted
in converted money traditionally left on the table
to direct sales of housing units.
The immersive environment, coupled with the unparalleled co-authorship
of the built environments in Unreal Engine,
increased the margin of close sales while increasing overall unit
variability to suit individually and meet investment goals.
HENRY LOUTH: Twinmotion's gentle learning curve
allowed multiple Rhino users unfamiliar with Twinmotion
to learn quickly, deliver stunning imagery,
and contribute to content preparation from day one.
This empowered the technical and creative aspects
of the project to move forward in parallel with a very small project
team.
With clients and end-users distributed globally
across both hemispheres, web deployment integration
was a priority, which Unreal streamlined.
The web-based platform removed potential issues
with client-side hardware requirements, technical support,
remote connectivity issues, resulting in a simple, seamless, no-nonsense
browser design exploration.
It's been a pleasure working with Epic
to deliver an unparalleled service model for architectural design,
exploration, and delivery.
Thank you for your time.