Representing Pasts – Visioning Futures
Abstract
Metaverse now has a new architectural dimension thanks to advances in spatial computing technologies. City administrations worldwide have begun to create digital twins of their cities, not just for operational reasons but also to allow people to experience the cities in new ways digitally. However, some physical places, mostly historical ones, have distinct characteristics that leave imprints on the minds of their visitors. Such distinguishing traits may be lost while generating digital representations of the locations, resulting in similar digital worlds. Given this potential challenge, we propose a postphenomenological study to explore the future of cities in the metaverse. Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, dates back to the 7th century BC. Over time, it has welcomed a variety of ethnicities, and each group has introduced its own architectural traditions and values to the city. As a result, it is possible to come across diverse architecture throughout the city, which some people may refer to as heterotopias. They are worlds within worlds, fascinating and occasionally unsettling locations that are unique to their location. During this research, we intend to investigate the future of Istanbul with its heterotopias in the metaverse as a case study. We intend to build an open-source platform for data collecting through online interviews, meetings, and surveys and then analyze and evaluate the collected data using a postphenomenological methodology. In this way, we may investigate the relationship between people, places, and technology for future cities in digital worlds. In the end, our case study will serve as a starting point for a novel discussion on how to represent cities in the metaverse while preserving the unique, lived experiences such as heterotopias.
Begum holds an MSc from Istanbul Technical University’s Architectural Design Computing Program. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the same program on future architecture in the context of spatial computing technologies.
Dr. Leman Figen Gul is a professor in the Architecture Program at Istanbul Technical University. Her research interest includes investigating human-computer interaction and computer-supported cooperative work, game design, design education, parametric design and fabrication, design cognition, mixed reality, virtual reality, and augmented reality.