A virtual reality exhibition

Anyone interested in architecture might like to visit this exhibition, which is being staged by the Royal Institute of British Architect (RIBA).

Running until Saturday, May 16, this is the organisation’s first virtual reality (VR) exhibition and explores key moments in the evolution of architectural styles over the last 500 years.

The new commission by multidisciplinary design studio Space Popular raises one of the most enduring concerns of architecture: the rise and fall of styles.

Drawing on RIBA’s world-class collections, Space Popular uses virtual reality to examine architecture styles of the past – from the Renaissance to postmodernism – while considering technology’s impact on contemporary buildings and spaces.

Freestyle: Architectural Adventures in Mass Media welcomes visitors into an immersive environment, exploring the impact of popular cultures and technologies on the evolution of architectural style.

The VR narrative is enriched by 22 exclusive and historic artefacts from the RIBA collections, spanning 500 years of architectural history, including books, stereoscopic prints, photoprints, drawings, negatives, patterns and sketch books.

Highlights include original works by Owen Jones, Augustus Pugin and John Nash, while featured buildings range from the beloved Brighton Pavilion, Kensington Pagoda and the Crystal Palace, to the myriad social VR “spaces” available online.

A large-scale architectural model, custom-designed by Space Popular, dominates the RIBA Architecture Gallery.

This is accompanied by a bespoke colourful carpet, representing technological periods throughout history, which aligns with the timeline of the model.

An elaborately crafted VR experience takes each visitor on an illuminating tour through the space, guided by knowledgeable avatars that link animated and physical content.

The exhibition is being held at the Architecture Gallery, RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London, and has free admission.

PIC CREDIT FRANCIS WARE