MSD RE-IMAGINED

EXPLORATION THROUGH SCALE, TIME & SPACE

Socializing with friends has become such a frustrating and difficult activity to do in the midst of Covid 19 and the chaos of online classes. MSD Re-imagined is a virtual platform that brings architecture students together again to encourage stronger, more diverse networks and social inputs.

The project transforms the familiarity of MSD - the architecture, activities and culture into a fun, exciting and immersive experience. Through playing with scale in ways that are impossible in the physical realm, we transform intangible ideas into spatial architecture in Virtual Reality. The architecture of MSD Re-imagined brings students into worlds within worlds, with each creating more intimate spaces for personal interactions and activities.

The main programs are:

1. The Studio: an interactive educational space, where students are able to share their project's progress, carry out discussions and critique each other's work.

2. Vending Machine: encourages new connections by providing a convenient way to exchange and trade items. From model materials to a cup of coffee delivered to your home, students are only a click away from obtaining their desired item as well as finding a new friend.

The other programs - 3,4,5 Standing Room, the Bar, and the moonlight cinema are social spaces that are recreated virtually from the real activities of students in the physical MSD building.

The level and interactions are designed to fit the needs of students of MSD and the endless possibilities of VR. Bending the realities of scale, time and place; MSD Re-imagined celebrates the opportunities of socializing in virtual, to create memories and stories with friends again.

AAVS MELBOURNE
New Paper II // 2020

UNIT 4
The Fourth Place: The Future of Online Social Spaces
TUTORS: Allison Crank &
Raphael Penasa for TygerTyger

STUDENTS
Han Wu
& Kristy Tan

Context

ZOOM UNIVERSITY

With the current situation of COVID-19 and self isolation, everyone is flocking to online platforms such as zoom and conference calls. But these lobbies are overlooked, often boring landing pages with a bit of UI and limited interactions devoid of social interaction. Students are not only frustrated from the limited social interactions, but also struggling in their studies. As architecture students, we depend on exchanging ideas, discussions and inspiration from our surroundings.

MSD RE-IMAGINED PLAYS WITH THE FAMILIARITY OF MSD IN A FUN AND ENGAGING WAY.

User Journey

CIRCULATION IN VIRTUAL SPACE

Users travel from starting as a giant then downsizing in scale through each level in the virtual space. Spawn points bring users into these different levels (scales).

VIDEO: Screen capture of a flythrough in the virtual lobby space.

Core Values

CONNECTING STUDENTS ACROSS COURSES

The core intention of the project is to encourage stronger, more diverse networks and inputs among students of MSD as well as connecting students from other courses. By including designated spaces for different activities, MSD Re-imagined becomes a space for students to gather for both social and educational purposes. The platform aims to transform the familiarity of the physical space into a fun, exciting and immersive experience; re-creating and encouraging interactions.

See it in Hubs

ENTER THE VIRTUAL LOBBY

If you have a VR headset, Google Cardboard or even through your internet browser, you can join and explore the lobby prototype space in a social VR setting. For Desktop, follow the TOUR UI to learn how to navigate or follow the Mozilla Hubs tutorial here.

You can use the WASD buttons to move and Q and E buttons to rotate your view. Press spacebar and click to share emoticons or find locations to teleport to.

MSD RE-IMAGINED

The virtual space consists of islands with different functions and activities. Each space brings students further into a different scaled space by spawning in and out of these structures.

MSD RE-IMAGINED

The virtual space consists of islands with different functions and activities. Each space brings students further into a different scaled space by spawning in and out of these structures.

Gallery

Concept Development

DIAGRAMS, ELEVATIONS, CONCEPT DRAWINGS, ETC.

CONCEPT: The concept aims to downsize users as they move from one level to another, which brings them into
worlds within worlds.

STORYBOARD: Inspired by VR game The Fisherman’s Tale and the movie Inception, users in MSD Re-imagined travel
through spaces by unconsciously entering different levels (scales).

MAP OF MSD RE-IMAGINED: How the space is programmed for different activities and programs.

INITIAL DESIGN: The first level design attempts to explore the idea of scale through pixelated cube-like structures
that function as a façade.

ELEMENTS: Familiarity of MSD is translated into both the design and user experience by taking elements from the architecture, objects, and school culture and exploring them in scale.