Projects: Bristol Housing Festival

City Blocks is an innovative exploration of how immersive technologies can be integrated with accessible design tools to empower community-driven urban development. The project utilizes a simple 8×8 grid, where users build cities using Lego bricks. Different colours represent key features such as parks, housing, and hospitals, allowing for easy yet meaningful design. Once the city is complete, the Lego model is scanned with a webcam, instantly generating a realistic 3D environment that reflects the user’s configuration. This unique 3D neighbourhood is then accessible for exploration at a 1:1 scale in a VR headset, offering an immersive, interactive experience.

City Blocks goes beyond just design; it incorporates unbiased city metrics that are relayed back to the users, helping them reflect on their urban choices and make informed modifications. The project was showcased at the Bristol Housing Festival from October 19th to November 4th, where it demonstrated the potential for blending physical and digital design tools to engage communities in the planning process. Through this project, I refined my skills in VR development, 3D scanning, and user-centered design, while also contributing to a platform that fosters inclusive and collaborative urban planning.