EchoXR explores how virtual reality can bring acoustics into the early phase of architectural design. The project simulates how different materials and spatial configurations affect the way a room sounds, letting architects hear their designs while they are still shaping them. The Immersive Design Lab at ETH Zurich developed it, where a spatial sound system of 75 speakers and an OptiTrack motion capture setup make it possible to go beyond visual 3D simulation.
Users move through a virtual space tracked with high precision, while the acoustic simulation responds in real time to their position and to the design changes they make. Users can adjust materials and surfaces directly in VR, getting immediate feedback on how each decision changes the acoustic experience. Several users can enter the same virtual space at once, turning acoustic design into a shared, collaborative process instead of a specialist calculation that comes late in the project.
The project focuses on spaces where sound quality matters most, such as schools, kindergartens, shared residential areas, and public spaces. As a proof of concept, EchoXR establishes a workflow that tests spatial and acoustic qualities together, and it was also used in workshops to help students and designers understand acoustic concepts through shared immersive experiences.
EchoXR in the Immersive Design Lab
Credits
Project leads: Fabio Scotto, Dr. Achilleas Xydis
Research Assistants: Giacomo Montiani, Chao Chia-Hsuan
Gramazio Kohler Research, Immersive Design Lab, Design++, ETH Zurich, 2025