Using mixed-reality to create multi-faith spaces
Master of Architecture student Cyrus Qureshi is working on an ongoing research project that proposes using augmented reality to create faith-based spaces on university campuses that meet the needs of all students and staff.
His work is part of several VR/AR projects taking place at Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Architecture and in the VR/AR immersive research facility at the DARA Research Lab.
“In our modern, diverse world it is important to educate everyone on different cultures and support the faith needs of many groups,” Cyrus says. “Tertiary institutions are particularly diverse, but preliminary research for this project showed that universities in Wellington only host prayer spaces for Islamic and Christian services. Inclusive spaces result in engagement and discussion on faith and provide for the needs of all.”
Cyrus’ research proposes that universities use augmented reality technology to offer multi-faith spaces, as opposed to the separate spaces they currently offer. He suggests universities could create a mixed reality space (combining physical architecture and digital elements) that would meet the needs of all students and staff.
“Mixed reality could be used to create a space that could be adapted for use by all students and staff,” Cyrus says. “Universities could offer a simple physical space, and users of the space could use augmented reality technology to digitally overlay religious elements. This would provide the users with the flexibility to transform the space according to their spiritual needs.”
Cyrus’ thesis suggests several ways students and staff could use digital overlays to create a space that suits their needs.
“Users could digitally overlay religious art and iconography, like statues or decorative architectural elements commonly seen in temples, mosques, and churches,” Cyrus says. “They could also change the layout of the room – adding a digital screen to create separate spaces for men and women as required by some Muslim practitioners, for example.”
Most excitingly, Cyrus says, the use of mixed reality could create a more enriching spiritual experience.
“Digital spaces are more fluid in nature, unlike physical architecture, which is permanent.” Cyrus says. “A user could set up the digital elements of the space so they move and change with the user, for example when they are performing Islamic prayer or Yoga, enhancing their religious practice and establishing a direct link between the inhabitant and the space.”
Mixed reality also addresses many of the issues commonly encountered when designing multi-faith spaces, Cyrus says. Each faith has certain requirements of their physical space, and they also have elements that are important to practitioners, such as statues. Current multi-faith spaces often try to either include all the necessary elements, leading to expensive and overly theatrical spaces, or offer a plain space that includes none of the physical elements needed for religious practice, which is also unsatisfying for the user.
Cyrus’ research also lays out a design for a mixed reality experience for Muslim students and staff. He hopes that this design will help people from other faiths to use his design process to create a mixed reality experience for their own faith.
Unfortunately, current augmented reality and virtual reality technology (like headsets) would make designs such as these difficult to implement, as this technology is too large, expensive, and inaccessible, Cyrus says. His concept is designed to function in a future where this technology has advanced and seeing mixed reality is a normal daily affair using digital lenses and/or glasses.
Cyrus has worked on other augmented reality projects, including one that helps people navigate cities in a more natural way. He plans to do further work in this area, including presenting at the 24th CAADRIA (Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia) conference hosted by the Faculty of Architecture and Design next year and the 2019 CAADfutures conference held in South Korea.
“There are substantial technological advances in augmented reality technology that architects cannot ignore. These technologies can extensively enhance the user’s experience of the built world,” Cyrus says. “I plan to continue work using augmented reality, ideally combining academic work and architectural practise. I want to further explore projects that combine architecture and issues of culture.”