‘A New Kind of Wonder’ reimagines Fed Square in an immersive experience

‘A New Kind of Wonder’ reimagines Fed Square in an immersive experience

A new RMIT-led mixed reality project has earned one of three finalist positions in Fed Square’s Experience Lab program to create a transformative and original immersive experience at the iconic Melbourne landmark.

The project, called ‘A New Kind of Wonder’, is a progressive virtual and mixed-reality experience that uses gaming, simulations and real-world interactions to engage participants as they wander and explore Naarm’s potential futures.

Led by Lecturer Patrick Macasaet’s creative practice SUPERSCALE (a collaboration with RMIT Architecture alumna Vei Tan), the project also had input from Alumnus Youjia Huang and current Master of Architecture students Shuming Ivy Zhou and Zechen Huang.

3 women and 3 men stand next to each other From left to right: Vei Tan, Cienan Muir, Patrick Macasaet, Zechen Huang, Youjia Huang and Shuming Ivy Zhou. Photo by Tobias Titz.

Macasaet said the project’s narrative was inspired by the environmental, cultural and mythological significance of Birrarung Marr.

“...as well as engaging with First Nations in how we might envision a future flooded city of Naarm,” Macasaet said.

The team consulted with Indiginerd founder Cienan Muir and co-leader of RMIT Architecture Yulendj Weelam Lab, Dr Christine Phillips, on how to engage audiences from a popular culture lens. 

Macasaet said the project had the potential to impact how visitors engaged with immersive experiences beyond a form of entertainment, focusing on providing enriching narratives to help us understand and explore important questions and wonders of our time. 

“We’d like to think it has an educational layer embedded with real-world knowledge but projected through ideas-led narratives,” he said.

An evolving project 

‘A New Kind of Wonder’ evolved from an earlier SUPERSCALE project, ‘Wander Wonder’, which was developed during the pandemic and stemmed from Macasaet’s concern for his students’ learning experience during lockdowns.  

“I was very lucky to have had a group of students that were very open in experimenting with other modes of teaching and learning so I turned to the world of gaming and massive multi-player open worlds,” he said.

From this, Macasaet began exploring how gaming technologies and allied immersive media could be incorporated into and impact future architectural design process, pedagogy and practice. 

Collaborating with Fed Square 

Through the Fed Square Experience Lab incubator, the team was paired with mentor Peter Tullin, who guided them through the process of developing their concept with both a creative and entrepreneurial lens. 

2 men stand next to a model of an art structure Peter Tullin (left) and Patrick (centre) displaying A New Kind of Wonder physical model. Photo by Tobias Titz.

Looking to the future

Macasaet hopes to expand the project nationally and internationally in new locations, to offer different sources of inspiration and knowledge.

He also has broader aspirations to break down barriers for creatives wanting to experiment with emerging screen and gaming technologies that are often costly and inaccessible without funding.

“We want to break that barrier and foster a new generation of content creators within this emerging space,” Macasaet said.

“But also, new technologies will emerge so we hope to keep up with the pace and continually evolve.”

Macasaet and his team, along with the other two finalists, gave their final pitch to the Experience Consortium and Fed Square Executives on May 4.  

 

Learn more about RMIT Architecture.

 

Story by: Abigail Lees  

17 May 2023

Share

Return to RMIT News
17 May 2023

Share

  • DSC
Engage

Related News

CommissionersatRMIT.jpg

Life-changing prison exchange program up for national innovation prize

A partnership with Corrections Victoria allowing incarcerated people to study a subject on crime and justice together with students from RMIT University has been recognised for its positive impact.

Person typing on a laptop with reading glasses in frame.

Digital divide narrows but gaps remain for Australians as GenAI use surges

The Australian Digital Inclusion Index has found almost half of Australians recently used generative AI tools, raising new opportunities and challenges for digital inclusion.

rmit-centres-melbourne-fashion-week-1220x732px.jpg

RMIT takes centre stage at Melbourne Fashion Week 2025

Students, PhD candidates, staff and alumni from the University's School of Fashion & Textiles featured across a range of events at Melbourne’s signature fashion event.

solid-yarns-gelthumbnail-1220x732px.jpg

Solid Yarns: new podcast showcases First Nations leadership in design

A new podcast series, Solid Yarns - co-produced by Solid Lines (Australia's first Indigenous-led illustration agency) and RMIT University - explores how First Nations artists and industry leaders are reshaping the future of design in Australia.

Show more
aboriginal flag float-start torres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information