Second Life Architecture
Monday May 14, 2007
In my real life, I fix up old houses and write about architecture for About.com. But in my second life, the sky's the limit. I can be the world's next Zaha Hadid or Frank Gehry, designing gravity-defying buildings and shaping entire cities.
Second Life is an online virtual community. Much more than a computer game, it lets you create an identity, launch a career, build a home, and interact with other "citizens."
Professional architects, artists, and designers are using Second Life to try out new designs and display their work. A new loft-style Starwood Hotel, constructed in Second Life, is set to open in 2008. Designers will use the feedback they receive on their virtual hotel as they construct a real world version.
Explore Second Life:
- Second Life Screenshots
- Introduction to Second Life (You Tube video)
- Ohio University Second Life Campus (You Tube video)
- Starwood Hotels Explore Second Life First (Business Week)
Comments
Anyone interested in exploring Architecture in Second LIfe is invited to tour the ‘Architecture Islands’ which hosts architects and designers from around the world. We also have a community group called ‘RL Architects in SL’ that you are welcome to join, as well as a community blog, http://www.archsl.wordpress.com
If you make it in-world, please find me – I’m Keystone Bouchard, and I’d be happy to show you around!
Architects used to mesh modelling may find building tools in Second Life somewhat constraining. It’s the prims. The building blocks that unfortunately make up all of Second Life.
Sooner or later we will see change, but for now, Sketchlife, although it isn’t magic, lets one move prims around inside of SketchUp, and upload them. Which may help especially with architectural work.