VIRTUAL Barcelona
Abstract
In the evolving field of Media Architecture, Extended Reality (XR) technologies have marked a transformative era in cultural urban contexts. Large-scale installations generating immersive and complex environments introduced a fusion of cultural narratives and immersive transmodal urban experiences. The main objective of this paper is to address the emergence of urban transformations through extensive, large-scale projection-mapping installations. For this, the analysis of the “Desire for Freedom” project will showcase powerful urban storytelling methods and techniques as part of one of the most extensive projection-mapping applications realized across 18 major cities in Greece simultaneously. “Desire for Freedom” was conceived as a tribute to the bicentennial celebration of the 1821 Greek Revolution through thematic works of art. Over 300 paintings were collected from museums, institutions and private collections, analyzed and deconstructed into cognitive layers to form worlds in XR. A team of forty researchers from the Transformable Intelligent Environments Lab of the Technical University of Crete, together with historians, a music composer, and a director collaborated on the Audio-Visual piece. Significant historical buildings throughout the country were reconstructed into point clouds and 3D architectural models so that the final visual piece was tailored to each building. The exploration evolved into 18 unique projection mapping installations and later an Augmented Reality (AR) experience to address XR through different mediums. Ultimately, this paper illustrates the potential of hybrid immersive environments operating between observable architecture and storytelling in XR. Future directions involve Generative Artificial Intelligence, spatial computing wearable devices, and their implications for XR and culture.
Marianthi Liapi is an architect specializing in the creative combination of design thinking, participatory practices and the contemporary maker culture. Starting in 2012, she is the TUC TIE Lab Research Program Director at the Technical University of Crete. Her research projects are grounded in architecture and technology and from there on they are branching out in learning places and maker spaces, extreme environments, cultural settings and projection mapping technologies. She holds a Diploma in Architecture and Engineering from AUTh and a MSc degree in Design and Computation from MIT.
Nefeli Manoudaki, an Architect-Engineer, currently pursuing a PhD in the Media Arts and Technology program at the UCSB. Formerly a researcher at the TUC TIE Lab in Greece, she contributed to impactful national projects. Bridging nature, human senses, and design through emerging technologies, her research encompasses immersive environment design, artificial intelligence, and exploration of allotropic architectural forms in tangible and digital media (VR-AR-XR-AI/ML).
Iason N. Paterakis, a California-based Architect-Engineer, Media Artist, and Extended Reality researcher, is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Media, Arts & Technology (MAT) at the UCSB. He is a researcher in MAT’s tranLAB and a research affiliate at the TUC TIE Lab, specializing in speculative augmented environments.
Marios Christoulakis is an Electronics & Computer Engineer with a MSc degree from the Technical University of Crete. He is currently a PhD candidate at the School of Architecture in the same institution, and a research associate at the TUC TIE Lab. His research interests include e-learning infrastructures, transcultural, interactive educational tools and serious game applications.
Marios Ioannidis has studied Digital Systems at the University of Piraeus. He holds an MA in Design Digital Cultural Products from the University of Aegean (UA). He also has a degree in animation from the School of Applied Arts “Ornerakis”. He is now a PhD candidate on Design and Evaluation of Storytelling Methods in Immersive Virtual Reality Games.
Professor Kostis Oungrinis is the TUC Vice-Rector of Research and Innovation. He is also the TUC TIE Lab Director. His research specializes in transformable environments, activity-based design methods, user-experience design, digital media and cultural heritage, educational environments, and spaces within extreme environmental conditions. He holds an Architect-Engineer degree and a PhD from AUTh. During 2004-06 he was a Visiting Research Associate at Harvard.
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Tuesday 16th July, 2024