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. Using Blenheim Palace as a prototype site, the project transforms the Great Hall, the Saloon, and the Long Library into a digital journey where users can explore architectural and historical narratives through immersive interaction.
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. The Living Archive was developed as a lightweight and scalable alternative, exploring how generative AI and browser-based technologies can translate complex historical and architectural information into a more intuitive, accessible, and engaging digital experience.
Process
I designed and built the interaction system and spatial user experience of the prototype, focusing on how users navigate and engage with layered historical content within a 3D environment. I chose a WebXR/Browser-based tech over a standalone app to maximise accessibility and ease of use, allowing users to access the experience instantly across desktop and mobile devices. Using Google AI Studio, I synthesised architectural records and historical data into structured content, and integrated Pannellum as the 360° panorama framework.
A key design decision was moving away from traditional click-to-read interfaces and introducing layered multimodal interactions — hover for quick insights, click for deeper exploration — allowing users to remain visually anchored in the space while progressively uncovering information. 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 remain lightweight, accessible, and adaptable. It also explores the potential of generative AI in rapid prototyping and full-stack experience development with minimal traditional coding.