The project focuses on the impact of the 19th-century industrial revolution, which led to significant changes in human lifestyle due to increased access to fossil energies. This shift from human labor to technological fossil fuel power is explained through the concepts of endosomatic and exosomatic energies, where energy can be located either within the body or external to it.
The project's aim is to understand how people and architecture have evolved to adapt to the environment in different parts of the world. To achieve this, the team uses Redirected Walking, a Virtual Reality (VR) technology that tricks the brain into thinking it's walking in a straight line when actually moving alongside a curve. They work with typologies that rely heavily on energy and might pose problems in the future due to their dependence on external energy sources.
The exhibition focuses on the transformation of existing buildings in various regions and explores how people deal with their environment. The ground floor of each building is transformed into an outdoor space, representing the typical kitchen and gardens of the region. People's 3D images captured in space with thermal cameras are sent to the VR experience in another building. Visitors wearing VR masks experience the space as if they were in the ground floor of another building and can see the "thermal ghosts" of people from that region, gaining insights into how they adapt to their environment.
The specific example developed in the exhibition centers on the Tokoen Hotel, which would be challenging to accommodate in the future due to its design and energy needs. The team recreates different climate conditions in the building using architectural tricks, such as limestone walls and wood panels for humidity regulation. The VR experience allows visitors to immerse themselves in different environments and understand the lives of people from diverse regions.
Overall, the project seeks to provide a tangible experience of how architecture and human adaptation have evolved in response to environmental challenges and energy consumption in various regions of the world. The use of VR technology and Redirected Walking adds realism to the experience and allows visitors to immerse themselves in different climates and architectural contexts. The aim is to promote a deeper understanding of the impact of industrialization and energy use on the built environment and human life.