In a captivating convergence of architecture and gaming, Zaha Hadid Architects has teamed up with Epic Games to create a unique project called "Re:Imagine London." This innovative collaboration explores the potential of virtual spaces to redefine our understanding of urban design and public engagement. Through the immersive world of Fortnite, the renowned architecture firm is challenging the boundaries between the physical and digital realms, inviting players to actively participate in shaping the future of London's cityscape.

Blurring the Lines Between the Real and the Virtual

Embracing the Spatial Internet

Zaha Hadid Architects' computational design group, CODE, has been at the forefront of this endeavor, driven by a belief that the virtual world can be just as real as the physical one. Shajay Bhooshan, a co-founder of CODE, explains that the team's focus is on enhancing the user experience, rather than solely on the construction process. "We don't think of buildings as something that needs to be constructed," Bhooshan says. "We focus on the user experience." This shift in perspective has led the architects to explore the potential of virtual architecture, recognizing it as a powerful medium for catering to large numbers of people and designing spaces that can truly engage and delight.

Fortnite as a Metaverse Prototype

Bhooshan sees Fortnite as a prime example of the "spatial internet," a concept that the architects have been exploring. The team was fascinated by the way Fortnite has evolved beyond a mere game, becoming a platform for social interaction, cultural events, and even architectural exploration. "When people started having music concerts in Fortnite and these kind of grand feelings of openness? If you investigate that, you think: why is that so appealing?" Bhooshan muses. "It is because you're gathering so much information, right? Plus, you can see where other players are…" This realization led the architects to believe that the virtual world, including games and metaverses, can constitute architecture and urbanism, offering a new frontier for design and user engagement.

Bridging the Physical and Virtual

The Re:Imagine London project emerged from this confluence of interests, with Zaha Hadid Architects and Epic Games collaborating to create a virtual layer that coexists with the physical city. Bhooshan explains that the team was interested in the idea of "participatory architecture," where the virtual world can be used as a medium for community engagement and civic pride. "Over the 20th century, people cared less and less about buildings and cities, and to detrimental effects," he says. "So it was a confluence of these three kind of motivations and interests: the metaverse, the use of video games for participatory architecture, and the desire to enhance the user experience of our built environments."

Designing for the User Experience

The collaboration between Zaha Hadid Architects and Epic Games has resulted in a unique experience where players can actively shape the virtual landscape of London. Bhooshan explains that the focus has been on creating a sense of architectural and urban realism, while also making the process incredibly fast and accessible. "Within three or four minutes, you can create something that is quite convincing and realistic as architecture and as urban spaces, which is normally not the case in any city-builder game," he says.

Blurring the Boundaries

The implications of this project go beyond mere virtual playgrounds. Bhooshan envisions a future where virtual architecture will become a real and integral part of our cities, creating a layered experience that complements the physical world. "There will be a virtual layer of any city," he says. "So that's one of the things that we thought of: Fortnite could become the virtual layer for London or any other city, and particularly cultural institutes can host their events or even advertise events, have a little launch party in front of the Thames, or in front of the Tate Modern, in front of St Paul's."

Embracing Constraints and Density

Bhooshan acknowledges that the virtual world does not necessarily offer infinite space, as one might assume. Instead, he believes that the constraints of the physical world, such as the need for interaction density and the value of compact urban environments, should be embraced in the virtual realm as well. "Nobody wants actually infinite games. I mean, yes, you need variety, but you do want to discover many people, many things in a small, compact area. So games actually really bring that constraint from the physical world – and highlight the value of that constraint."

Redefining the Future of Architecture and Urban Design

The collaboration between Zaha Hadid Architects and Epic Games represents a bold step towards redefining the future of architecture and urban design. By blending the physical and virtual realms, the project challenges traditional notions of how we experience and interact with our built environments. As Bhooshan eloquently states, "We believe real-world buildings and real-world cities were like that, and they ought to be like that, and not just like cheap ways to shelter ourselves from the elements." The Re:Imagine London project offers a glimpse into a future where architecture and gaming converge, empowering users to actively shape the urban landscapes of tomorrow.