Atlaantis, the first light : nature-inspired design for city building in virtual reality : an exegesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Design at Weta Workshop's School at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
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Date
2022
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Massey University
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Abstract
In the past century, some architectural movements like Modernism and Brutalism have caused unfavourable psychological effects for inhabitants. However, contemporary studies suggest that nature-inspired design and unconventional urban planning can create living environments that have a positive impact on the well-being and productivity of their users. Using an original narrative inspired by Plato’s Atlantis, this project develops a six minute proof of concept animation for a speculative fiction Virtual Reality experience, which mixes cinematic entertainment with education tools to “edutain” late teens and young adults about biophilic design, leading-edge fabrication methods and urban planning. Cities around the world are rapidly growing, with the UN Population Reference Bureau predicting an increase of up to three billion in the urban population by 2050 (PRU, 2007). New digital fabrication methods and scientific research into the psychological impact of architecture offer a range of new solutions to create more beneficial human habitats, however progress is slow. This project proposes education through awe-inspiring entertainment as a way to help mitigate this fact and aims to resolve the question: How can we as concept designers help broaden an audience's perspective on nature-inspired architecture and urban design? Drawing from research in the fields of psychogeography, biophilia and biomimicry as well as the concepts of Utopia and Dystopia, and also the potential of awe-inspiring cinematics for edutainment, the project employs a variation of the design thinking methodology that offers an organic problem solving strategy to help answer this question.