The project Alchemy of Atmospheres explores the potential of immersive and engaging virtual architectures to enable new and meaningful forms of human interaction in digital environments.

New patterns of interaction are forming on contemporary social VR platforms, where the structure and design of the surrounding worlds play a significant role in influencing human behavior. New architectural concepts, layouts, and aesthetics of these worlds can enable meaningful social connections and initiate new rituals. The aim of this project is to propose new atmospheric qualities and to create virtual spaces that encourage people to come together and build relationships.

Under the direction of Simon Husslein, with the assistance of David Viladomiu

Head of Department: Dr. Javier Fernàndez Contreras
Scientific Deputy: Valentina De Luigi

Students taking part in the project: 
Mélanie Affolter, Soheil Afzali, Camille Bodin, Noémie Castella, Charlene Claveria, Lisa Divorne, Diana Escalante, Tiziano Gargano, Stéphanie Hemidi, Narcisse Malumba, Meghna Thanushree Nagarajan, Paul Rigal, Noemi Tshala

Visiting lecturers: Michel Reilhac, Kent Bye, Space Popular, Barry Gene Murphy, Michael Salmon

Jury members: Celine Daemen, Paula Strunden, Damien Greder, Kevin Muster, Vitas Jankauskas, Isa Pasqualini

Unity teachers: Charles Chalas, Simon Senn

Images: HEAD – Genève

"The Other Home" is a VR project that explores the expansion of the concept of "home" into the digital realm. The word "home" typically refers to a physical structure in which a person lives, such as a house or apartment. However, the psychological and architectural qualities of digital "homes" are still being explored and defined.

In this project, a group of 17 students envisioned and created nine different VR worlds that were published on the social VR platform VRChat. All environments share a playful and experimental refinement of atmospheric quality and symbolism. To create these worlds, the students compared and applied various experiences from both physical and virtual environments.

Exhibited at DA Z, festival for digital culture in Zurich, 2023.

Projects published to Community Labs by VRChat user headvr1:
TheOtherHome1  by Ilena Escher
TheOtherHome2  by Paul Rigal
TheOtherHome3  by Yaroslav Dubeniuk ＆ Anna Smiian
TheOtherHome4  by Elisa Torres Ferreira‚ Clara Faure ＆ Mélanie Affolter
TheOtherHome5  by Stéphanie Pereira Sacramento
TheOtherHome6  by Fanny Tauxe ＆ Luna Clertan
TheOtherHome7  by Lou Tissot ＆ Lea Gruaz
TheOtherHome8  by Dylan Braun ＆ Melissa Bitto
TheOtherHome9 by Minna Compoint & Elena Llosas

Under the direction of Simon Husslein, with the assistance of Damien Greder

Head of Department: Dr. Javier Fernàndez Contreras
Scientific Deputy: Valentina De Luigi

Students taking part in the project: Mélanie Affolter, Melissa Bitto, Dylan Braun, Luna Clertan, Minna Compoint, Yaroslav Dubeniuk, Ilena Escher, Clara Faure, Lea Gruaz, Tal Kashi, Elena Llosas, Paul Rigal, Stéphanie Pereira Sacramento,  Anna Smiian, Fanny Tauxe, Lou Vanille Tissot-Daguette, Elisa Torres Ferreira.

Jury members: Andreea Ion Cojocaru, Samuel Arsenault-Brassard, Isa Pasqualini

Unity teacher: Michaël Martin
Unity development:  Charles Chalas 

Images: HEAD – Genève

The project explores how virtual reality might offer opportunities to improve various professions. The 11 presented ideas include jobs such as fashion designer, architect, archivist, marketing analyst, and musician. The designs of the virtual environments are created beyond the visual vocabulary of physical representation, introducing an ‘abstract' design typology.

The project has been exhibited at ‘Cité des Métiers’ in Geneva, the largest fair for jobs and training courses in Switzerland.

Students of the Interior Architecture department at HEAD – Genève taking part in the development of the VR spaces: Oxana Streit, Gyeonghwan Hwang

Collaborating schools:

Haute école de musique de Genève, HEM, Gilbert Nouno, Philippe Spiesser, David Poissonnier, Thibaud Cardonnet, Students: Jaouen Rudolf, Nikolai Ivanov, Benjamin Gueit, Eloïse Fares

Haute école de gestion de Genève, HEG, Rene Schneider, Vincent de Vevey, Sabine Emad, Students: Mira Buzanszky, Youri Hanne, Lena Ugaz, Louis Andres Boixader, Dina Andriamahady, Kelvin Lee Ho Lam, Fanny Maillard, Benjamin Henrioud, Yan Tavares

Haute école de travail social de Genève, HETS, Marco de Monte, César Humerose, Students: Haeika Chevallier, Lisa Creti

Haute école du paysage, d'ingénierie et d'architecture de Genève, HEPIA, Yves Leuzinger, Dr. Yassin Aziz Rekik, Students: Oxana Streit, Gyeonghwan Hwang

Haute école de santé de Genève, HEdS, Aurèle Sagne, Paul Bobbink, Carole Guex, Students: Léonard Grangier, Mélanie Houzelle

Haute École d'Art et de Design, HEAD, Jasmina Barshovi, Students: Emma Birbaud, Clémence Lablancherie, Lucie Guiragossian, Quentin Langlet

This installation unveiled a new typology of virtual reality environments specifically created to exhibit design objects. Developed with students of the Master of Arts in Interior Architecture (MAIA) at HEAD – Genève, the different VR spaces showcased a selection of furniture pieces by Swiss designers. The visitors experienced spaces that went beyond the visual vocabulary of physical representation.

To create these unique showrooms, the group was inspired by the materiality of the objects, the ethos of their designers, and the visual identity of the associated brands. The virtual spaces offered an interpretation of the worlds of Peter Zumthor, Fritz Haller, Pierre Jeanneret, Hans Coray, Atelier Oï, Big Game and Hannes Wettstein.

Exhibited during the Milan Design Week 2022 at the ‘House of Switzerland’.