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Manan Vikam works at the forefront of architecture’s phygital shift, where digital twins, XR, and real-time simulation actively shape how buildings are conceived and experienced. At DXU Architects, his work transforms static drawings into living systems—allowing designers to test light, material, circulation, and human behavior before construction begins. By treating technology as a tool for clarity rather than spectacle, Vikam ensures that intelligent environments remain responsive, ethical, and deeply human-centered.
The intersection of the built environment and digital intelligence is reshaping how architects conceive, construct, and operate spaces. As the industry moves beyond static blueprints toward dynamic ecosystems, the role of the designer is expanding. This shift toward “phygital” environments requires a nuanced understanding of both material systems and computational workflows.
Manan Vikam, an architectural designer and creative technologist at DXU Architects, operates at this convergence. His background spans complex healthcare facilities, student housing in dense urban fabrics, and digital twin workflows for multi-state projects. His work demonstrates how emerging tools like Computational Design, Extended Reality (XR) and real-time simulation can drive decision-making from concept to occupancy.
The concept of the digital twin has evolved from a simple repository of data into an active participant in the design process. In modern practice, the boundary between a physical site and its virtual counterpart is becoming increasingly porous. Vikam notes that when these layers run together, the experience of a space becomes more continuous.
Reflecting on his work, Vikam explains, “Decisions made in the virtual model show up immediately in the real environment. It creates a feedback loop where the building is no longer just a static object, but something that can be understood, adjusted, and clarified in real time.” This immediacy ensures that environmental factors are embedded into the form itself.
He adds, “The physical form carries that intelligence, so the climate response is felt, not just drawn. It feels like a single environment rather than two separate worlds.” This approach aligns with broader industry movements toward progressive digital twin frameworks that track a project from fetal intent to operational maturity. By maintaining this connection, architects can create facade systems that actively respond to environmental stimuli.
Healthcare facilities represent some of the most programmatically complex environments in architecture, requiring a delicate balance between technical precision and patient well-being. The challenge lies in visualizing how sensitive areas will feel and function before they are built. Vikam emphasizes that the most meaningful use of computation in projects like the BCM Hospital came through real-time rendering.
Vikam recalls, “The real-time model allowed us to test several palettes and see how they behaved under different lighting conditions, which gave the design team a level of confidence that a static drawing cannot offer. Patient environments react very strongly to tone, warmth, and contrast, and a small color shift can change the mood of a space completely.” This capability provided a level of certainty that static drawings could not offer.
He notes, “When the building was photographed, the spaces looked almost identical to what we had visualized months earlier. That alignment made it clear that computation is not just a presentation tool.” Such precision is vital in medical contexts, where detailed architectural planning directly influences operational efficiency. It supports data-driven simulations that are critical for risk management in healthcare settings.
Immersive tools are altering the architect’s responsibility, shifting the focus from designing fixed layouts to managing lifecycle systems. This transition is particularly evident in adaptive reuse and retail prototyping, where logistics and spatial constraints must align perfectly. Vikam describes how XR shifted his role from drawing a room to shaping an entire environment.
Vikam states, “We had to document and source a large amount of hostel furniture and reconcile it with several room types: double sharing, twin sharing, and private rooms. By placing accurate 3D models of the beds, wardrobes, and study units directly into the digital space, we could walk through the rooms and understand how the furniture actually behaved at scale rather than guessing from a plan.” This method brought a new level of rigor to the design process.
He argues, “XR made the decisions more responsible and more precise. It showed where circulation would tighten, how light hit the study tables, and whether two students could realistically live in that configuration.” This approach mirrors contemporary strategies in student housing design, where modularity and circulation are critical. It also leverages large-scale extended reality (XR) applications to optimize spatial planning, example project – Proximity Living.
While emerging technology offers powerful capabilities, its application must be tempered by the cultural and climatic realities of the site. In dense urban contexts like Mumbai, the primary needs often revolve around passive climate control and social integration rather than high-tech interventions. Vikam reflects that the VJTI project did not need a high-tech concept, but rather shade, airflow, and community spaces.
Vikam explains, “Working on VJTI in Mumbai taught me that emerging technology is powerful, but it cannot replace an understanding of place. Mumbai is dense, layered, and culturally specific.” He uses digital tools to support these fundamental needs rather than replace them.
He asserts, “I use technology when it brings clarity, reveals performance, or simplifies coordination, but I do not let it dictate the architecture. In places like VJTI, the cultural and urban conditions set the tone, and the tools support that intent rather than lead it.” This philosophy supports passive cooling strategies where the architecture itself functions as a climate moderator. It also respects the social dynamics of the student community.
The adoption of gaming engines and VFX tools in architecture is revolutionizing how designers conceptualize space. By prioritizing simulation and interactivity, architects can evaluate movement and user experience from the outset. Vikam notes that using tools like Unreal Engine forces him to think about sequences and how someone moves through a shaded walkway.
Vikam observes, “Using tools like Unreal Engine and Blender has changed the way I think about space because simulation makes you consider movement and experience right from the beginning. In a master plan, it forces me to think about sequences, how someone approaches a court or moves through a shaded walkway, not just the geometry on a drawing.” This experiential approach transforms the design phase into an active investigation.
He adds, “When you start with an interactive model, the design is no longer a static composition. It behaves like a place you can enter, test, and refine.” This method allows for the creation of efficient, reality-informed structures that are optimized for human occupation. It leverages simulation technologies derived from gaming to validate architectural performance.
As architectural practice becomes more global, the ability to coordinate large, distributed teams is essential for maintaining project velocity. Digital workflows serve as the backbone for this collaboration, ensuring that all stakeholders view accurate, up-to-date information. Vikam points out that when a project starts with a 3D scan and a coordinated digital twin, everyone looks at the same conditions from day one.
Vikam explains, “When a project starts with a 3D scan and a coordinated digital twin, everyone is looking at the same conditions from day one. The engineers and designers all work from a shared model, which removes a lot of the guesswork that usually creates delays.” This transparency is critical for multi-state work where aggressive timelines leave little room for error.
He concludes, “Everyone has the same information, the same level of clarity, and the ability to make decisions without waiting for another round of updates. That is the biggest shift digital workflows have brought to our practice.” The industry is seeing a rise in immersive stakeholder collaboration, validating the need for these synchronized digital environments. Modern platforms now enable collaborative virtual techniques that connect remote professionals seamlessly.
The integration of sensors and automation into buildings raises significant questions regarding privacy, autonomy, and user comfort. As structures become more intelligent, the architect must act as a guardian of the human experience. Vikam asserts that the architect’s role is to set the ethical and experiential boundaries before technology takes over.
Vikam states, “As buildings become more connected, I think the architect’s role is to set the ethical and experiential boundaries before the technology takes over. In public and healthcare settings, the goal is always to support clarity, comfort, and dignity.” The goal is to enhance well-being without creating a sense of surveillance.
He adds, “The technology should remain quiet and respectful, improving comfort without making the environment feel monitored. If we approach intelligent buildings with that mindset, then the architecture stays centered on human well-being even as the systems become more advanced.” This perspective aligns with emerging governance frameworks for digital twins that prioritize responsibility. It also adheres to principles of ethics by design to mitigate privacy risks.
When augmenting shared spaces with AR or XR, the challenge is to foster social connection rather than isolation. Effective phygital design must anchor digital information to the physical world in a way that is intuitive and inclusive. Vikam emphasizes that when XR enters a shared space, the goal is to support connection, not separation.
Vikam explains, “We anchored the AR cues to real architectural elements such as doors, courts, columns, and circulation paths so everyone saw the same information in the same physical locations. The digital content grew out of the geometry rather than floating independently.” This strategy ensures that the digital layer enhances the existing social behavior of the room.
He notes, “People moved through the space with more confidence, made decisions faster, and felt less anxious. The environment stayed socially coherent because the digital layer supported the behavior that was already natural in the room.” These interactions demonstrate the potential of interactive extended reality applications to enrich public life. Proper implementation also involves a Data Protection Impact Assessment to manage data handling in public areas.
The convergence of physical architecture and digital systems creates new opportunities for design leadership. Architects like Vikam utilize both material and virtual tools to shape next-generation environments. As the industry evolves, the focus remains on deploying these technologies to build spaces that are efficient, responsive, and human-centric.
