PRS Australia PhD Examination - Patrick Macasaet (School of Architecture and Urban Design - RMIT University)

Polyphonic Praxis: Architectural Design in Real-time and Immersive Gaming Environments 

‘Polyphonic Praxis’ is research at the nexus of architectural design, pedagogy, gaming environments, virtual speculative worlds, and future practice. Grounded in the critical exploration of real-time and immersive virtual gaming environments, this research advocates for a highly polyphonous and interdisciplinary approach as an exploration of architectural practice operating within contemporary virtual contexts. Central to this research are three fundamentals: Polemics, Immersions, and Ecologies.  

Polemics encompasses the articulation of critical narratives and ideas rooted in socio-cultural, environmental, or technological concerns, shaping the foundation for a speculative world-making process for architectural design. Immersions denote the utilisation of gaming technologies to create real-time, dynamic and immersive environments that aim to enhance designing, communication, representation, and collaboration in architectural design practice and pedagogy. Ecologies refer to the creation of diverse and interconnected environments, spanning virtual constructs and diverse mediums, to convey ideas, foster relationships, and extend the impact of architectural discourse. 

This research speculates on an architectural practice that extends beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries, embracing the dynamic relationships between contemporary real-time design processes in gaming media and an interdisciplinary approach. It aims to enrich design discourse, with audiences within and beyond the discipline, and praxis of future architecture