Augmented media and narrative interventions for public spaces

Whether media art, media architecture or corresponding curatorial activities: The preparation of large-scale façade projections usually requires elaborate test constructions with expensive production technology. However, these unpopular resource guzzlers could soon be a thing of the past. The augmented reality application MediaArchitecture-AR (MIRAR for short) makes it possible to test moving image-based content such as video art on site by augmenting the desired media façade with the corresponding content.

This connection between the real and virtual world allows media content to be scrutinised in the current lighting conditions. The spatial and social use of the urban space and the resulting visual axes – for example with regard to narrow paths, busy streets and the daily changing use of squares – can also be taken into account. The colours, speed and brightness of the video image can be adapted to the real conditions of the recorded surface and the viewer’s line of sight in order to provide a realistic preview.

Notes can be taken at any location in front of the façade and screenshots and video recordings can be saved and labelled with timestamps and GPS coordinates. This information can be used to discuss the test later in the team, and the findings can then be incorporated into further planning.

In the app, users can create their own projects in and link an existing building with digital content (e.g. a video).