Bjarke Ingels Group and UNStudio invest in SpaceForm, a virtual workspace for architects

Bjarke Ingels Group and UNStudio have invested in SpaceForm, a virtual workspace, to help developer Squint/Opera grow the cloud-based platform.

The platform will help global design teams remotely present and design more effectively, reducing the need for travel. The latest SpaceForm prototype, which was designed to help fill a gap that arose from the pandemic, is a 3D multi-user platform for presenting architectural designs and digital twin data in real-time. SpaceForm immerses architects, developers, and designers in projects across any device. The platform will simulate immersive, 3D environments for collaborative reviews and presentations with a project’s key stakeholders.

SpaceForm virtual meeting

SpaceForm can seamlessly connect other visualization software such as Rhino 3D, Rivet, Sketchup, and Unreal to allow easy data sharing. It will also allow users to visualize digital twin and urban data for better decision making and design choices, while immersing virtual audiences in architectural design on any device.

SpaceForm digital meeting

“We used a gaming technology stack, very similar to Fortnite, and applied it to the world of architecture and design,” said Jan Heuff, Squint/Opera’s Director and SpaceForm’s CEO, in a release. “The use of immersive, real-time gaming technology in the built environment is exciting as it opens up new ways to explore and engage with the unbuilt world.”

The beta version of the latest prototype will be ready for download by the end of 2021.

Aligning the BIM model with the owner’s asset management system is the crucial first step in creating a Digital Twin. By following these guidelines, organizations can harness the power of Digital Twins to optimize facility management, maintenance planning, and decision-making throughout the building’s lifecycle.

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