Architectural Storytelling in Social XR
A Night of Awe, Insight & Human-Centered Design
Virtual environments affect how we feel, think, and behave. At our X-NIGHT April, XR architect Kim Baumann Larsen showed how architectural design and environmental psychology shape meaningful immersive spaces.
Why Architectural Storytelling Matters in Virtual Worlds
Immersive virtual environments are becoming central to the way we work, socialize, and explore. From collaborative work environments to event platforms, more and more of our digital lives unfold in 3D social spaces.
But here’s the question:
This was the focus of the April X-NIGHT, vm-people’s monthly VR event series. Our guest speaker was Kim Baumann Larsen, a Norwegian architect and XR expert, who has been designing interactive 3D environments for over two decades.
Combining architectural storytelling, environmental psychology, and immersive design principles, Kim shared how virtual spaces can support emotional well-being, social connection, and human-centered collaboration.
From Physical Architecture to Social XR Design
As Kim explained, physical and virtual architecture share one thing in common: They shape us.
Citing Winston Churchill’s famous quote – “We shape our buildings, and then they shape us” – Kim explored how the built environment, even in digital form, has a measurable impact on our mental and emotional state.
Environmental psychology provides evidence for this. For example:
- People who grow up in cities have a higher risk of certain mental illnesses than those from rural areas.
- High ceilings activate creative thinking, while low ceilings promote focus.
- The color red increases alertness, while blue evokes calm and openness.
These findings are crucial when designing social XR spaces – immersive 3D platforms where people gather, collaborate, and co-create.
Designing Virtual Spaces for Human Needs
Kim’s presentation emphasized that effective virtual architecture must prioritize comfort, orientation, and emotional resonance.
So what exactly makes a digital environment feel “right”? Drawing on both his own work and studies by researchers such as Stephen and Rachel Kaplan, Kim highlighted several key qualities:
- Coherence
The ability to quickly make sense of a space through repeated shapes and familiar layouts. - Legibility
The ease with which users can navigate and categorize a scene. - Complexity
The richness of a space – not cluttered, but layered enough to invite curiosity. - Mystery
The suggestion of hidden elements or zones that encourage exploration.
These characteristics are not only relevant to physical design but are equally powerful in immersive platforms, such as Mozilla Hubs, Unity-based apps, or WebXR environments.
Nature-Inspired Virtual Architecture
One of the most striking takeaways from the session was the role of nature as both blueprint and balm for virtual space design. Humans have an innate preference for environments that resemble those in which our ancestors thrived – spaces that provide safety, nourishment, and perspective. These features often include:
- Distant horizons
- Trees and water
- Varied elevation
- Sheltered viewpoints
This aligns with theory of “prospect and refuge”, made famous by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. In VR, this translates into spatial layouts where users can observe without feeling exposed, move freely, and explore without cbeing confused.
“In immersive design, we’re not bound by gravity or material constraints,” Kim reminded us. “But we should still design for human scale and emotional clarity.”
Skeuomorphism, Familiarity & User Comfort
Another key design concept Kim discussed was skeuomorphism – the use of familiar real-world features in digital environments. Even though we don’t need doors, railings, or ceilings in VR, these elements help us understand affordances (i.e., what actions are possible). A door signals a way out. A window provides orientation. Removing such cues may make a space look futuristic – but it risks making users feel lost or even confined. That’s why “human-scale design” remains critical, even in virtual worlds.
Key Takeaways from the Session
- Built environments influence emotions, focus, and creativity – in real life and in XR.
- User comfort and intuitive navigation should be at the heart to every design.
- Nature-based and human-scale elements support presence and well-being.
- Skeuomorphism offers vital orientation for users unfamiliar with 3D spaces.
- And finally: Virtual spaces should foster connection – not just decoration.
Thank you to Kim Baumann Larsen for an unforgettable session full of insights, stories, and spatial design wisdom.
Learn more about Kim’s work: kimsarc.com
