Design your city: A virtual reality experience for sustainable urban spaces

Instead of presenting traditional plans, the virtual reality tool allows residents to experience planned changes virtually and help shape them during the design phase. Street spaces can be changed immediately: trees, market stalls, or bicycle parking spaces can be placed, and new green spaces, car-free streets, or traffic-calming measures become immediately visible. Sounds, movement, and immersive presentation support the imagination and bring possible transformations of public space to life.

The project is supported by ZHAW and ZHdK. In collaboration with catta, the City of Zurich (Civil Engineering Office, Social Services, Office for Urban Development), and NGOs such as umverkehR, myclimate, and Fussverkehr Schweiz, sustainable urban development is being promoted. Several studies have shown that interactive and immersive technologies can increase attitudes toward sustainable urban development and promote interest in participatory processes. It is particularly noteworthy that these technologies also appeal to people who would be less active in traditional participatory processes.

The results show that virtual reality can be an effective tool for early stages of participation. With the experience gained, the project is ready to be implemented in other locations, thus contributing to future-oriented and participatory urban design.