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 right from the design phase. Street spaces can be altered instantly: trees, market stalls or cycle parking spaces can be placed, and new green spaces, car-free streets or traffic-calming measures become immediately visible. Sounds, movement and the immersive presentation stimulate the imagination and bring potential transformations of public space to life.

Four versions of the experience were developed for the study: an interactive VR version, a non-interactive VR version (film), an interactive desktop version and a non-interactive desktop version (film). These were tested at four schools in the canton of Zurich. The study examined how effectively they convey knowledge, spark interest and encourage willingness to participate in urban design processes.

The result: the interactive VR version performed best. The combination of immersion in the virtual world and the opportunity to actively make changes oneself significantly boosted both interest and positive attitudes towards sustainable urban planning to a far greater extent than traditional formats. Based on these findings, the VR experience was adapted for a planned redevelopment project in Zurich and tested with the public. Here, too, it became clear that the experience is well received and can strengthen motivation to participate.

The VR experience is ready to be deployed in further specific projects. It should be noted that this requires adjustments to the 3D model and, due to the need for VR headsets, can only be used in guided sessions. Nevertheless, the project demonstrates the potential of virtual reality as a complementary medium in participatory urban development.