Examination of Projects Produced in the Metaverse as an Opportunity for Architecture

Abstract

The study questions the role of the metaverse universe in the field of architecture. In this context, the article aims to determine this new field's potential, understand its boundaries and analyse what kind of projects have been produced in the architectural field to date. Descriptive analysis, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the study, and the analysis data was obtained from Archdaily's database, a popular architectural platform. All of the studies obtained from here are current, and the oldest project dates back to 2020. The evaluation of projects was evaluated according to the criteria of different space types (Hyper Reality, Abstracted Reality, Hybrid Cyberspace, Hyper Virtuality), smart city/building, creative-innovative design, social value creation, interaction-socialization, new spatial experiences, digital art, and cultural value creation. Among the projects analyzed, there are projects developed by architects and designed by video and game developers. As a result, in the metaverse universe, futuristic, free designs are developed, and historical and cultural structures are revitalized and passed on to future generations. Complex 3D visualizations can be easily produced in the metaverse instead of using various software. In the future, the metaverse is expected to radically change and transform the discipline of architecture in education, design, and practice.