The theatre metaphor for spatial computing in architectural design

Information

• Publication Type: Conference Paper
• Workgroup(s)/Project(s):
  • Advanced Computational Design
• Date: June 2023
• ISBN: 978-615-5270-79-6
• Publisher: Budapest University of Technology and Economics
• Open Access: yes
• Location: Keszthely
• Lecturer: Bálint Istvan Kovács
• Event: Creative Construction Conference 2023
• Editor: Skibniewski, Miroslaw and Hajdu, Miklós
• DOI: 10.3311/CCC2023-087
• Booktitle: Proceedings of the Creative Construction Conference 2023
• Pages: 10
• Conference date: 20. June 2023 – 23. June 2023
• Pages: 674 – 683
• Keywords: Computing, architectural design

Abstract

New digital technologies require new conceptual approaches to help potential users understand existing and envision new use cases and applications. Moving from desktop computing to spatial computing (virtual, augmented, mixed and extended reality environments) also requires the introduction of new metaphors. New interaction and visualisation possibilities afforded by current devices are causing virtual and real worlds to merge into an inseparable unity of reality and imagination. There are many similarities between theatre and AEC workflows. However, the theatre process is scaled down in terms of space, time, and budget, and is therefore better suited to explore innovative and experimental methods. In order to conceptualise the role of a novel spatial computing drawing tool (MR.Sketch) in existing AEC processes, we propose the theatre metaphor, which embeds the conceptual foundations of the tool in a collaborative design workflow based on the cooperation of different domain experts. The metaphor proposal includes the analysis of the following theatre concepts: integrative collaboration with specialists, stage infrastructure, workshops for different tools and manufacturing methods, stocks and the immersive experience of space and time in different scales. We illustrate the capabilities of the theatre metaphor to cover the entire creation and performance process of architectural design in an experimental mixed reality sketching application. The implementation of an early prototype of the sketching application was used to evaluate the applicability of the theatre metaphor to spatial computing.

Additional Files and Images

Weblinks

• Entry in reposiTUm (TU Wien Publication Database)
• DOI: 10.3311/CCC2023-087

BibTeX

@inproceedings{kovacs-2023-ttm,
  title =      "The theatre metaphor for spatial computing in architectural
               design",
  author =     "B\'{a}lint Istvan Kov\'{a}cs and Ingrid Erb and Kiumars
               Sharifmoghaddam and Lukas Lipp and Michael Wimmer and Peter
               Ferschin",
  year =       "2023",
  abstract =   "New digital technologies require new conceptual approaches
               to help potential users understand existing and envision new
               use cases and applications. Moving from desktop computing to
               spatial computing (virtual, augmented, mixed and extended
               reality environments) also requires the introduction of new
               metaphors. New interaction and visualisation possibilities
               afforded by current devices are causing virtual and real
               worlds to merge into an inseparable unity of reality and
               imagination. There are many similarities between theatre and
               AEC workflows. However, the theatre process is scaled down
               in terms of space, time, and budget, and is therefore better
               suited to explore innovative and experimental methods. In
               order to conceptualise the role of a novel spatial computing
               drawing tool (MR.Sketch) in existing AEC processes, we
               propose the theatre metaphor, which embeds the conceptual
               foundations of the tool in a collaborative design workflow
               based on the cooperation of different domain experts. The
               metaphor proposal includes the analysis of the following
               theatre concepts: integrative collaboration with
               specialists, stage infrastructure, workshops for different
               tools and manufacturing methods, stocks and the immersive
               experience of space and time in different scales. We
               illustrate the capabilities of the theatre metaphor to cover
               the entire creation and performance process of architectural
               design in an experimental mixed reality sketching
               application. The implementation of an early prototype of the
               sketching application was used to evaluate the applicability
               of the theatre metaphor to spatial computing.",
  month =      jun,
  isbn =       "978-615-5270-79-6",
  publisher =  "Budapest University of Technology and Economics",
  location =   "Keszthely",
  event =      "Creative Construction Conference 2023",
  editor =     "Skibniewski, Miroslaw and Hajdu, Mikl\'{o}s",
  doi =        "10.3311/CCC2023-087",
  booktitle =  "Proceedings of the Creative Construction Conference 2023",
  pages =      "10",
  pages =      "674--683",
  keywords =   "Computing, architectural design",
  URL =        "https://www.cg.tuwien.ac.at/research/publications/2023/kovacs-2023-ttm/",
}