by John Kirkwood
Have I missed something, or is there some real purpose to the Millennium Dome, other than providing massive publicity for the architects involved? So far as I am aware, to date no one has confirmed exactly what it will be used for, and yet, there has already been an announcement that the original budget will be exceeded!
We know what the dome will look like, thanks to Hayes Davidson, which is working with architect Richard Rogers Partnership. The company has used 3-D computer technology to create the images, such as the one above, that have appeared in the press and on television.
The company has created “virtual” images of all the UK’s Millennium projects including the Millennium Wheel, the new Tate Gallery of Modern Art at Bankside, the Millennium Tower and the new “Media Stand” at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Hayes Davidson creates digital images of buildings using 3-D computer software, and from these both “photorealistic” virtual pictures and animated video walkthroughs are produced. These are combined into interactive multimedia or Internet applications that allow a virtual visit to the as-yet unbuilt project.
“Virtual buildings have now become one of the most important and effective hi-tech tools in the bid to persuade the public of the benefits of these futuristic designs, ” state the company.
However, as the technology of virtual reality improves, will it be enough to create these images in digital form so that visitors will be able to “experience” them wherever they are, rather than go to the trouble of actually building them?
More details from Alan Davison, Hayes Davidson Ltd, 80-82 Chiswick High Road, London W4 1SY (0181 995 8202).
John Kirkwood is senior lecturer in Land Administration at Sheffield Hallam University. His home page address is http://www.demon.co.uk/property
