IN-PERSON London Heritages. Section B

Abstract

Immersive media has the potential to transform how we perceive and interact with cultural heritage (CH). The intersection of interactive technologies, spatial design, and storytelling opens up new possibilities for preserving and reinterpreting CH through interactive spatial storytelling. This research explores the integration of immersive media with intangible cultural heritage (ICH), specifically Al-Aragouz, the traditional Egyptian hand puppetry inscribed in 2018 on the UNESCO list of ICH in need of urgent safeguarding. It aims not only to preserve ICH but also to enrich public engagement in an appealing matter to leave an emotional connection between the visitor and heritage. The research is conducted in three phases. The first phase focuses on desk and archival research, literature review, and interviews with Al-Aragouz tribute bands to establish an understanding of the four main focus areas: Cultural Heritage, Immersive Media, Spatial Storytelling, and Al-Aragouz. In the second phase, selected sketches from traditional Al-Aragouz performances are reconstructed and adapted to develop an immersive experience using iterative design processes applied to content development and user interaction. The third phase focuses on implementing the interactive experience—not to construct a novel technological platform, but to use the existing interactive technology to enable immersive engagement with heritage content that reflects the context of the narrated stories. This study contributes to ongoing discussions around digital heritage, immersive experiences, and participatory design by offering a culturally grounded framework for integrating traditional practices into contemporary interactive experiences to encourage greater audience interaction and to advance cultural continuity in the heritage scene.