Gaussian Splatting for architecture: photorealistic walkthroughs without remodeling
Gaussian Splatting turns photos and video of a real space into a navigable 3D scene with photographic quality. For architecture and real estate it means showing the real space — not an approximation — inside Apple Vision Pro.
What Gaussian Splatting is, in one sentence
Gaussian Splatting is a 3D representation technique that reconstructs a scene from photographs or video: instead of triangle meshes, the scene is made of millions of "splats" — small volumes of color placed in space — which together reproduce reality with photographic quality.
The result can be explored freely in real time: it is not a 360° photo locked to a fixed viewpoint, but a space you can actually walk through and observe from any angle.
Why it fits architecture and real estate
In architecture, the difference between "similar" and "exact" matters. A classic 3D model reinterprets a space; a splat captures it as it truly is: the grain of the stone, the real light at that time of day, the noble patina of a historic building or the exact finish of a completed renovation.
For built spaces — showrooms, finished buildings, monuments, offices — it is the fastest and most faithful way to bring reality into an immersive experience, without weeks of modeling.
From capture to walkthrough
The workflow is simple: capture the space with photos or video (drone, camera or smartphone), process the splat and get a .ply or .sog file. That file can already be opened directly in ArtSuka on Vision Pro and explored at real scale.
With ArtSuka Studio, the splat becomes a sales-ready .artsu scene: predefined cameras, lighting environments, information points, floor plans and everything needed for a guided visit.
Splat, 3D model or render: when to use each
If the space exists, the splat wins: true photorealism in little time. If the project is not built yet, the 3D model or render from your studio is still the way — and it can live in the same presentation alongside splats.
In fact, a complete ArtSuka presentation can mix both worlds: the splat of the real site, the 3D model of the projected building, PDF floor plans and the corporate video, all inside a single .artpres file.
The next step: splats in motion
The natural evolution is 4D Gaussian Splatting: the same technique applied to moving scenes, capturing people, vehicles or the passage of time in a place. For presentations and construction documentation it opens possibilities traditional video cannot offer.
It is a young format but already usable in production, and one of the most exciting lines in architectural visualization today.
FAQ
Which Gaussian Splatting formats does ArtSuka support?
Both .ply and .sog (compressed SuperSplat), either to explore directly on Vision Pro or to embed inside .artsu scenes and .artpres presentations.
Are splat files heavy?
It depends on the capture, but the .sog format compresses very efficiently and, being offline-first, the scene is downloaded once to the device and explored in real time with no streaming.
Do I need special equipment to capture?
Not necessarily: a good video walkthrough with a recent smartphone or camera can produce high-quality splats. For large projects or monuments, drone capture gives better results.