Enhancing the interactive virtual environment to improve the participatory process of co-designing residential buildings

Abstract Different users have unique housing needs; however, in the current residential design process, communication based on two‑dimensional architectural drawings requires a certain level of technical literacy; non‑professional users often find the interaction modalities difficult to use and are therefore unable to effectively express their design preferences. This study addresses this issue by introducing virtual reality (VR) into the participatory design process, developing VR-Aided Design as a solution. This system utilizes speech input and ray casting to enhance user interaction. To validate the feasibility of the proposed method, we applied it to real-life residential design cases and conducted thorough testing of the system. The communication functions of SketchUp, VR Sketch, and VR-Aid Design were compared and analyzed using protocol analysis. The results of the study demonstrate that the use of VR in the design process improves interaction, communication, and understanding, leading to increased user engagement with the design. Results showed the system effectively increased engagement in the design process and enhanced users’ perception and understanding. Focus interviews confirmed the system enabled easy design adjustments.