‘Utopian Disruption’ project at vrbn, Switzerland,
together with ISWG, Germany
During my tenure at VRBN, my focus was leading the intersection of Creative Systems and high-volume Immersive Content Production for a diverse range of industries (including gaming, culture, advertising, and simulation).
Pioneered and developed proprietary procedural systems used to generate key architectural and environmental elements, aligning high-volume digital asset creation with rigorous real-world standards.
Directed the production and creative quality control for over 650 comprehensive 3D interior designs. This massive content library was strategically engineered for performance, undergoing transformation into parallax-occlusion projections to ensure real-time visualization for the end-user experience.
Led the Technical Artists team (as stated in your CV reframing), fostering a high-performance environment that drove both creative growth and adherence to complex technical specifications.
Spearheaded the design and artistic direction of the primary creative project, “Utopian Disruption,” a collaboration with Ulrich Gehmann (ISWG, Germany). This project served as a high-concept demonstration of future-facing, immersive digital world creation.
VRBN Group AG (Switzerland) provides premium 3D solutions and content for a wide range of industries, including gaming, culture, advertising, visual effects, and simulation.
"Utopian Disruption" (2023) project proposes a continually evolving dynamic utopian city, tailored to meet the contemporary demands of communities while incorporating symbolic meanings and concepts intrinsic to Western culture. This endeavor employs a realistic approach to contemporary architecture, distinct from the conventional perception of an ideal space characterized by opulent architectural designs. In the subsequent exploration, we will delve into how the tension of conceptual paradoxes has steered the final form of Utopian Disruption.
Central to Utopian Disruption is the premise of an inherent dichotomy between nature and culture. TWe treat architecture as the ultimate artifice—a complex synthetic artifact created through human technical and artistic endeavors. This work demonstrates the mastery of Creative Systems required to translate high-level philosophical concepts (like biomimicry and culture) into a tangible, continually evolving digital environment that is built for real-time engagement and conceptual impact.
As the lead in conceptual design and immersive strategy, I found the core premise of ISWG and VRBN’s "ideal city" compelling. This project’s Narrative Design is built on harmonizing the tension between opposing forces, channeling that dichotomy into a symbolic, yet contemporarily relevant Experiential Layout.
This creative vision is embodied in the city's overall structure, which features three distinctive zones that guide the user's journey:
The Core: The central domain establishes absolute symmetry, forming the core of cultural expression and strategic messaging.
The Transition: Expanding outward, the second domain introduces a gradual, organic design flow, serving as the seamless visual and narrative transition between "culture" and "nature."
The Edge: The third domain features intertwined natural landscapes and architectural elements, echoing the organicity of parks and water bodies. This area signifies the city's potential for expansion and serves as a fragment of a larger narrative puzzle, enticing viewers to envision the evolution of an alternative cityscape.
In this work, boundaries are replaced by dynamic transition zones where new narratives unfold. This project demonstrates my ability to design complex spatial systems that manage conceptual paradoxes and deliver high-level visual storytelling for immersive environments.
Initial Concept Sketches
Final Concept Sketch
Final Plan in CityEngine
CityEngine Scene
Thus, the overall environmental configuration not only accentuates the dialogue between culture and nature but also mirrors the shape of a jigsaw puzzle piece. This form serves as a poignant metaphor, inviting observers to envision their place within a grander narrative. The concept's open invitation to imagine the city's continued persona is what captivated me most.
This project blends manual urban planning design with procedural rules. Procedural systems govern the distribution of buildings, trees, assets, and textures throughout the city. The buildings themselves emerge from intricate rules, primarily scripted, resulting in a significant proportion of their generation being automated.
All images courtesy of vrbn.