Overview

Created a Unity model to prototype daylighting parameters in an immersive environment.

The purpose was to re-define the experience of designing an interior space with spatial, real-time feedback for direct decison making.

This MVP allowed lighting designers + collaborative teams to see how daylighting (the use of natural light in a building) would impact interior comfort and reduce energy usage. The tool was intended to be used in a CAVE or VR environment.

Problem

Designers have limited access to daylighting tools where they can visualize scenarios in an immersive, real-time environment. Existing algorithmic modeling tools such as Grasshopper / Rhino require scripting skills & lack collaborative prototyping ability.

Solution

Unity app (.exe) to prototype daylighting parameters and visualize both aesthetic & energy impacts.

Designers could toggle b/w the following design parameters via a simple UI in full-scale CAVE environment or VR headset:

• 3 window types (single-pane glazing, double-pane glazing or diffused glazing with 90%, 65% or 5% light transmittance respectively)
• Enable / disable window overhangs
• Choose any date & time in a year
• 3 locations (San Jose, Boston, Philadelphia)

Per each scenario the designer could visualize in either “reality mode” or “radiance mode”:

• Reality Mode: see & feel the interior light at various times of day / year
• Radiance Mode: understand the annual heat intake (kWh) of the space via pseudocolor “heat map” on floor

Model Workflow

Rhino > DIVA > Unity > Executable File (.exe)

Rhino:
- modeled building geometry

DIVA (Rhino energy plug-in):
- ran heat analyses & created pseudo color textures

Unity:
- Wrote scripts & created UI to toggle window types, overhang, radiance texture mode
- Applied materials & finishes to interior surfaces & windows

Takeaways

This project taught me how to prototype and build in Unity. I was able to apply 3D experience design principles from architecture to an immersive software environment. Furthermore, I learned how to ship & iterate within short time constraints.