Building Better Spaces: Using Virtual Reality to Improve Building Performance

The decisions made during the early design phase play a crucial role in shaping the built environment and the daily experiences of individuals and communities, and they are critical factors in addressing climate change and resource depletion. While established metrics exist for certain aspects of building performance, such as energy consumption and occupant comfort, other qualitative aspects, such as aesthetic experience, lack established metrics and are difficult to pinpoint. In the face of current energy challenges, the need for effective communication of these aspects and collaboration between various stakeholders has become increasingly important. This chapter aims to illustrate the potential and limitations of virtual reality (VR) for building performance in the initial design process and promote its use as a unique tool for investigating both quantitative and qualitative design aspects. This chapter provides a narrative review of existing studies that employ VR in the context of building performance, examining a range of applications related to building performance visualization, design, education, and research. Additionally, this chapter examines current limitations and research gaps related to VR use in building performance, aiming to support future research and technological advancements and leverage its potential in the early stages of building design.