THE HUNT

The anticipation for "The Hunt," a pioneering virtual reality exhibition hosted by Architecture Hunter, is nothing short of palpable. In an exclusive preview, renowned architects had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of virtual architecture. This groundbreaking experience provides architects with a platform to bring their creative visions to life. "The Hunt" takes visitors on a virtual journey through ten distinctive projects, designed by some of the most innovative architecture firms globally.

Fernando Forte, who attended the preview, described his experience as "extremely immersive, enjoyable, and surprising!" when interacting with the architectural designs in a virtual environment. He sees enormous potential in virtual reality (VR), especially with the emergence of 3D interfaces like Apple's. The capabilities of VR in creating experimental or conceptual spaces, he says, are "very high and should increase significantly." This sentiment was echoed by Mariana Simas, who found her experience to be the most profound of all her VR encounters to date.

In the realm of architecture, VR is shifting perspectives and unlocking a myriad of possibilities. Mariana applauds "The Hunt" for its innovative idea of presenting utopian projects side by side in such an immersive and compact format. She believes this opens the door for important dialogue and introduces new methods of architectural exhibitions, expanding accessibility to a broader audience.

Designing for "The Hunt" was an enlightening journey for the teams behind the showcased projects. The team from MK27, who contributed one of the designs, referred to their experience as liberating and dreamlike. In their approach to create an engaging and multi-sensory VR experience, they delved into exploring ecumenical spaces of spirituality, the play of light, and the sensation of inertia and materiality. Yet, the freedom that virtual architecture presents comes with its own complexities.

Rojkind, another participating architect, conveyed a similar experience. In his transition from physical to virtual architecture, he found that the lack of constraints such as gravity and seasonal changes demanded a significant shift in design principles. He capitalized on the unique opportunities of VR to create transformative digital environments, pushing the boundaries of human imagination. His design philosophy in "The Hunt'' encapsulates the questioning spirit and the exploration of guiding principles in this boundless virtual space. He envisioned his design as an introspective sanctuary for individuals to experience, explore, and envision their reality.

"The Hunt" not only showcases the possibilities of VR in the field of architecture but also paves the way for important conversations about the future of the discipline. Rojkind affirms the potential of VR and augmented reality (AR) technologies in democratizing architectural experiences, making them accessible to a wider, more diverse audience.

The Hunt is shaping up to be a revolutionary event that transcends the physical and explores the digital, shaping the future of architectural experience and the discipline itself. With technological advancements, we can expect a more diverse, participatory, and responsive architectural profession. As Fernando insightfully puts it, VR has opened his mind to "dozens of possibilities of reaching people, presenting projects, [studying] the history of architecture, [and organizing] in-person and remote exhibitions." This sets a new precedent, not just for architecture but for how we experience and interact with space in the digital age.

Presented by Architecture Hunter & jformento

_architecture: Kengo Kuma, Luciano Kruk, WOHA, Michel Rojkind, Yodezeen, Studio MK27, SAOTA, Fran Silvestre and 3XN
_written by Daniela Moreira Silva
_film by jformento