Studio led by Simon Husslein (Atelier Simon Husslein)

Assisted by Chiara Kocis

This studio explores the potential of utilising meaningful shared experiences (part physical, part virtual) to create new forms of connection between people. The studio investigates how carefully staged atmospheres in both realms can complement each other. The outcome will consist of paired digital and physical prototypes that enable two visitors to meet, engage, and feel co-present.

New modes of interaction are emerging in a culture where the boundaries between digital and physical realities are increasingly blurred. Encounters in virtual reality offer an opportunity to rethink how architecture can support togetherness. By designing both a digital place and its physical staging, students will explore how the duality of environment influences behaviour, perception, and the sense of unity.

Participants are asked to analyse the characteristics that compose architectural atmospheres and how they evoke moods, feelings, and shared awareness. They will compare experiences across physical and digital environments to define what is essential for meaningful encounters. Research will include the study of digital culture and immersive performance, as well as documentation of best practices in VR architecture. Students will also investigate the function of the non-functional- how atmospheres, gestures, and ephemeral qualities contribute to the experience of togetherness.

Organised in pairs, each student group will develop a concept that articulates the role of hybridity in their chosen scenario and defines the spatial relationship between the physical installation and the virtual environment. This concept will be prototyped using 3D sketching and collaborative VR tools such as Gravity Sketch and ShapesXR, and staged with physical interventions. The final presentation will combine a virtual world, a physical prototype, and comprehensive documentation of the design process.