Imagine walking around a house that is still under construction. You go into the bathroom, you wander around the living room, you stand on the balcony and admire the view. All these shots – not from a futuristic movie. Real estate development company Eika is one of the first companies in Lithuania to apply virtual reality (VR) technology to everyday life, offering the opportunity to choose your future home. There is no doubt that the use of VR will soon become an essential part of housing choices.
On February 1, the new capabilities of the EIKA VR service were introduced in one of the projects being developed by Eika – the settlement “Namų pynės” on Tuskulėnai Street. Starting on February 3, Vilnius residents will be able to try virtual tours of apartments that have not yet been built or are under construction at the shopping and leisure center “Panorama”.
EIKA VR is called innovation
According to virtual reality developers, projects like EIKA VR are creating trends that are spreading around the world as best examples.
Robertas Dargis, Chairman of the Board of Eika, is proud that one of the world’s first innovations is being applied in Lithuanian business and life. “The needs of a modern real estate buyer are changing – they want to quickly receive information, try as many different options as possible, check carefully, and experience with curiosity. The use of virtual reality can speed up the buyer’s choice – before purchasing, they will check whether this is how they imagine their future home. I have no doubt that from now on, buyers’ decisions will become more objective,” says R. Dargis.
Currently, Eika offers to view five virtual apartments from four real estate projects under development – two apartments from the Karaliaučius quarter in Pilaitė, which began construction this year, and one each from the projects “Namų pynės”, “Bajorų alėjas” and “135” on Žalgirio Street.
EIKA VR is a novelty in the real estate market. According to R. Dargys, this is a tool that will undoubtedly change the process of choosing real estate. A person, having put on special glasses and entered a virtual space, can walk around extremely realistic virtual apartment models, feel the size of the rooms, change interior details, and select the desired colors for the walls and floors. What is unique is that it is possible to inspect an apartment in an apartment building that has not yet begun construction.
Both entertainment and an important choice
EIKA VR has been under development for several months by the virtual reality developer team id3D, led by Vilius Juknevičius. The architect, who has previously lived in China and Sweden, has returned to Lithuania for an indefinite period for this project.
“Global business is just beginning to look for ways to apply VR. The potential is huge, but the focus is usually focused on entertainment content. Systematic application of VR for practical purposes is a difficult challenge, but then completely new opportunities open up. EIKA VR can be boldly called an innovation. So far, there are only isolated cases in the world when virtual reality is fragmentarily integrated into the sales process,” says V. Juknevičius.
By using EIKA VR, future tenants will save many hours: they will no longer have to drive and view several apartments – they will only need to move from one virtual apartment to another with the click of a button.
According to R. Dargys, consistent investments are planned in the application of VR technology. It is expected that virtual apartment models will be created for each new project. Special places have also been set up where it will be possible to try out the EIKA VR service. One of them will be in the company’s office.
The first visitors to PLC Panorama will be able to try out the EIKA VR service from February 3 to 10. A special stand will be open there from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., where anyone interested will be able to walk around virtual apartments.
Photos by Mindaugas Mikulėnas.
About the Eika group of companies:
Founded in 1992, Eika is one of the largest real estate development and construction groups in Lithuania, successfully developing residential, commercial, public and other building projects, creating a new quality of life and work. The company has already built more than 3,750 apartments and 320 thousand square meters of buildings. Eika has been awarded many times as the best real estate developer in Lithuania, and the company’s projects “Santariškių namai” and “Eika namai Pilaitė” have also become the best in Lithuania.
More information:
Jorūnė Juodžbalytė
Marketing and Communications Manager
UAB “Eika”
Phone: +370 520 45809
Mobile: +370 686 80126
Email: [email protected]