Augmented reality and tangible user interfaces as an extension of computational design tools

Abstract The paper envisions the use of Augmented Reality (AR) as an interactive and communication tool utilized in the architectural design research, education, and practice. It summarises the current knowledge and various applications of this immersive technology in both the theoretical and practical field and focuses on a particular type of the AR implementation – tangible user interfaces (TUI) – in a computational design context. The outcome of the research is an adaptation of the originally GRASS-GIS-powered Tangible Landscape tool into Grasshopper 3D environment, which is more accurate and suitable for the architectural design workflow with respect to 3D computation, algorithmic modelling and different scale management. The newly prototyped tool is reactive to the modifications of the physical model and projects the computed additional information on it in real time and thus can communicate with the designer or observer, which results in a more interactive, haptic man-machine interface. The projected and visualised data on the physical model are the outcome of the computing algorithm designed in Grasshopper that allows for a wide range of applications, including the visualisation of shadows and solar potential analysis and thus depicts the physical model in multiple dimensions. Furthermore, the article discusses the potential and further development of this tool as well as the possibilities of layering different AR technologies in the subsequent research.