A Realist Conception of Architecture in the Metaverse: Spatiology, Phenomenology, Semiology, Dramaturgy

This article is a translation of the article A Realist Conception of Architecture in the Metaverse: Spatiology, Phenomenology, Semiology, Dramaturgy; Patrik Schumacher, London 2022 Published in: Vahid Vahdat & James F. Korestes (eds), Architecture, Film and the In-between Spatio-Cinematic Betwixt, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 2023.

Abstract from author:
Spatiology, phenomenology, semiology and dramaturgy identify and define central aspects of architecture’s task domain. These aspects of architectural learning respond to key challenges contemporary architecture faces with respect to its need to adapt its intelligence and design resources to the density, complexity and dynamism of 21st century social life. Architectural design shares these challenges with film making. Here too spatiological, phenomenological, semiological and dramaturgical intelligence is in demand and has been theoretically reflected. An engagement with the art and theory of film making in order to hunt for a potentially productive transfers of design intelligence makes sense, especially as architecture gears up to the design of virtual spaces, cities and worlds: the metaverse. It is in this context of cyberspace and metaverse design that the task dimensions of spatiology, phenomenology, semiology and dramaturgy as key dimensions of a spatial UI/UX design effort are foregrounded and distilled as indispensable competencies. Here too architecture must cope with increasing levels of social communicative density, complexity and dynamism. As physical construction constraints disappear, spatial cognition, information density and interaction richness come to the fore as the critical performance criteria of all design. The focus on those problems that are most typical of our current times of transition and on opportunities grounded in nascent social, economic and technological conditions aligns the author’s real and virtual (metaverse) architectural ambitions with the spirit of realism in film and fiction.

Keywords: spatiology, phenomenology, semiology, dramaturgy, organisation, articulation, signification, interaction, communication, societal function, framing, realism, metaverse.

Architecture, together with the other design disciplines, can claim universal competency and exclusive responsibility for the totality of the designed environment and world of artefacts, both real and virtual, i.e. for the totality of the human phenomenal world. Everything that surrounds us, meets our senses and as nterface mediates our communications with the social world was designed by a colleague. The design disciplines include: urban design, landscape design, architecture, interior design, furniture design, fashion design, product design, as well as graphic design and web-design, and in the near future: metaverse design. All the design disciplines together form a single discourse and function system of society with the shared societal function of the spatio-visual framing of all communicative interactions. This discourse revolves around the lead distinction of form (internal reference) versus function (external reference), is structured by the persistent binary code of (formally and functionally) ‘resolved’ versus ‘unresolved’.