General public’s perception of earthship buildings in the UK: An immersive VR based approach

Sood, Swati; Sudhakanan, Gargy M.; Prabhakaran, Abhinesh; Booth, Colin A.

Abstract

Earthship homes are exceptionally sustainable forms of housing, designed as passive solar homes with an emphasis on waste minimisation, water conservation, and energy efficiency. This chapter aims to elicit the perceptions of Earthship homes among industry professionals and youths, utilising a 3-dimensional Building Information Modelling (BIM) based model and immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences. A survey was conducted on 28 professionals and 122 young people using probability sampling, employing a positivist research stance with a deductive approach. Likert scale and multiple-choice questions were used to assess respondents' opinions, and the results were statistically analysed using IBM SPSS software. Results indicated that challenges in identifying suitable locations for Earthship development were prominent, especially regarding compatibility with densely populated urban areas. Participants also highlighted the benefits of using recycled materials and the reduced environmental impact as key advantages of these unconventional homes. The results also show that although the participants stated that they were in a virtual world and that the visual elements of the model had captured their attention, they could still distinguish between VR and the real world and that not all participants were fully satisfied with the VR technology.

• Online Publication Date: Jun 27, 2025
• Publication Date: Jun 27, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jun 8, 2025
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Edition: 1
• Book Title: Applications of Immersive Technology in Architecture, Engineering and Construction A Handbook
• Chapter Number: 17
• ISBN: 9781032657066
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/14549145
• Publisher URL: https://www.routledge.com/Applications-of-Immersive-Technology-in-Architecture-Engineering-and-Construction-A-Handbook/Prabhakaran-Mahamadu-Booth-Manu/p/book/9781032657066
• Contract Date: Feb 11, 2025