Virtual Reality Supporting Environmental Planning Processes: A Case Study of the City Library in Gothenburg.

Paper in proceeding, 2008

The introduction of Virtual Reality (VR) models in the environmental planning process can change the traditional roles of the parties involved. This paper examines the influence of VR-models on the role of professionals in an architectural competition concerning proposals for rebuilding the city library in Gothenburg. The study shows that VR was experienced as useful by the jury, while troublesome by the architects. In the future architects are likely to have to produce the VR-models for their proposals by themselves. Therefore smaller firms may experience it as difficult to enter the market or to have full control over their VR contributions. Further results show how VR can be more efficiently used in the evaluation process by improving communication between different stakeholders.