Role: Individual Project
Overview
The Living Archive is a web-based 360° interactive platform exploring how heritage experiences can be reimagined for contemporary digital audiences. The experience was developed entirely through AI-assisted coding in two days, and transformed three spaces of Blenheim Palace — the Great Hall, the Saloon, and the Long Library — into immersive digital environments using only three images from each space.
Problem / Purpose
Traditional historical sites often rely on physical access or dense interpretive text, making them difficult to engage with for remote users, younger audiences, and visitors with accessibility needs. Traditional digital heritage experiences often require specialised equipment, extensive 3D modelling, or significant development resources. The Living Archive explores how generative AI and browser-based technologies can lower these barriers, making immersive cultural storytelling more accessible to both institutions and audiences.
Process
I designed and built the experience from initial concept to functional prototype within two days. I used generative AI to create a panoramic image for each space from three existing photographs taken at different angles, then integrated Pannellum to turn these images into interactive 360° environments. I built the web experience, combining spatial navigation with structured historical and architectural content using Google AI Studio.
A key design decision was moving away from conventional "click-to-read" interfaces in favour of layered interactions that support different levels of engagement. Users can hover for quick contextual insights or click for deeper exploration, allowing information to unfold progressively without disrupting immersion. The interface was intentionally minimal and translucent, preserving the architecture as the primary focus while providing clear navigational cues.
Outcome
The project resulted in a functional and responsive 360° prototype that loads efficiently across desktop and mobile devices, demonstrating how immersive heritage experiences can be created without the time, equipment, and resources traditionally required for spatial production. Beyond rapid prototyping, the project highlights the potential of generative AI to make multimedia storytelling more scalable, adaptable, and accessible to cultural institutions of different sizes and resources.