Bartlett Research Conversations: Sandra Youkhana

Masterplanning the Metaverse: Exploring the Architecture of Collaborative, Virtual Worlds

About

Sandra’s research takes place as society questions the idea of the ‘Metaverse’, a popular buzzword in technology and design. While the Metaverse has been framed as a ‘spatial’ internet, there is a lack of discourse examining how it will be designed and what expertise from architecture and urbanism may be applied in this process. To answer this, her thesis looks towards videogames, which are leading the production of collaborative, virtual worlds.

Key to this research will involve comparing virtual architecture to its physical counterpart, reframing how the real world is extracted, altered, and applied to virtual environments. Through visual analysis and critical play, she has been testing the tools for participation in virtual world design. In doing so, Sandra aims to develop new design methods that open architecture up to new audiences, and prototype alternative forms of architectural practice situated beyond our physical world.

Supervisors

Prof. Barbara Penner and Prof. Iain Borden

Guest Panellist

Prof. Andy Hudson-Smith from The Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA)

About The Bartlett Research Conversations

The Bartlett School of Architecture’s Research Conversations seminars comprise work-in-progress and upgrade presentations by students undertaking the Architectural Design MPhil/PhD and Architectural and Urban History and Theory MPhil/PhD. All current UCL staff and students are welcome to attend.

Held regularly throughout the academic year, the seminars are attended by the programme directors, Professor Jonathan Hill and Professor Sophia Psarra, PhD Coordinators, Dr. Nina Vollenbröker and Dr Sophie Read, and other PhD supervisors.

Image: Testing creative tools for participation in virtual world design