VIRTUAL London Heritages Conference

Abstract

There are unprecedented opportunities as well as daunting challenges for the preservation of cultural heritage in the modern era. This paper explores using augmented reality as a technology to embed information and culture within a place, transforming natural geographical features or human made sites into a Memory Palace. Stories that reflect the culture and history of a heritage area, can be told in new and compelling ways, with digital content overlays onto physical sites. The Augmented Memory Palace serves us not only as an educational tool but as a repository of cultural memory. It is inspired by various mnemonic techniques, the ancient Greek method of loci as well as Indigenous practices such as Songlines, which encode vast amounts of information within songs and stories tied to specific geographical landmarks. AR augments a real physical place, a place providing a tangible connection to the past, which is crucial for cultural identity and continuity. Physical heritage sites hold intrinsic value that cannot be fully replicated digitally. The Memory Palace is a way of understanding, appreciating and remembering, that is deeply embedded in the human psyche. It’s a narrative-driven experience that develops emotional connections to the physical environment via stored knowledge, enhancing memory retention and cultural appreciation. Drawing from decades of experience in animation and storytelling, as well as research into the mechanisms behind creative flow, this study aims to articulate a method for preserving and teaching cultural heritage through immersive AR experiences that maintain a connection to the original analogue source.