IntAR 2020

Graduating at a time of unprecedented circumstances, the Interior Architecture Class of 2020 embraces a paradigm shift to the virtual dimension. Faced with the challenge of designing an exhibition without a space, the seniors adapt a virtual site for the Senior Show.  

The RISD Museum Grand Gallery, the place of European grand masters, is transformed into an exhibition of the Interior Architecture seniors. The seniors’ full-scale Human Factors artifacts occupy the central space of the museum’s iconic portrait gallery, and ten classical paintings host ten new adaptive reuse projects in augmented reality. “The New Normal” investigates the potential of space-making when movement is not possible, adapts and rethinks architectural language in altered design conditions. 

Importantly, it is an invitation to congregate in new ways, to celebrate the culmination of our time together as a class no matter where we are.

To enjoy the augmented reality exhibition:
1. Find a large open space, e.g. your living room, then start the app.
2. Use the camera on your mobile device to scan the floor until a small crosshair appears.
3. Tap the screen once. This will project a portal on the floor.
4. Now, when you walk in real space, your movement will be replicated in augmented space.
5. You may walk around the portal and then pass through it, to enter the gallery space.
6. For your safety, remain aware of your physical environment as you move in augmented space.

Inside the gallery, you will notice ten large rotating objects. These are full-scale artifacts of our Human Factors projects. They hover above framed pictures of us interacting with these pieces. Further out, you find ten floating picture frames. These are also portals, like the one you entered through. Tags next to the frames provide descriptions of each project. Take a look at the paintings on the walls. You will notice some of them oscillating. We have used artificial intelligence to analyze and then map the original painting style onto renderings of our projects.

We hope you enjoy the exhibition!
Nancy Lu, Andrea Porras, Dessery Dai, Helena Siu-Zmuidzinas, Jungil Yang, Ziying Peng, Chuming Yu, Yinan Yang, Yunni Cho, Noopur Apte

Music: Lightman's Dreams - Stillness, composed and performed by Monika Sieracka