Museums in the metaverse
Lateral North hired Archi-Interactive to design and develop virtual museum environments inspired by five architectural styles :
Brutalist
Modernist
Deconstructionist
Traditionalist
Pavilion
These museums would be used by curators to create exhibitions beyond what the physical world provides, while at the same time providing a complimentary platform for the museum’s 3D scanned collection of artefacts.
‘It is perhaps a best-kept secret in the Museums industry that most artefacts that exist in the world are never seen. In many cases, as much as 90% of collections remain in storage, hidden from public view and inaccessible. This is a staggering statistic, and highlights the need for a solution which, until this point, seems to have resisted innovation. Enter Museums in the Metaverse, an initiative by the University of Glasgow to expand access to cultural heritage through immersive technology, while maintaining the integrity and depth of realistic physical interactions with artefacts.’
-Scottish Design Awards
Deconstructionist
Modernist
Traditionalist
Pavilion
Brutalist
‘The environments were underpinned by a demonstrable understanding of audience behaviour and sensory stimulation. From lighting design and sound immersion, to motion and vertigo considerations, interaction within each environment was treated with particular care, ensuring that users' experience of engaging with artefacts was not only enjoyable and unique to them, but faithful in their realistic representations of artefacts. These environments facilitate access to collections at a scale that physical institutions cannot achieve, unlocking new ways for audiences to engage with objects that otherwise would not have seen the light of day, and curate their own museum experiences.’
—Scottish Design Awards