SOMNIUM TREEHOUSES
July - October 2021 | with support from Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie
Some years ago I became interested in the intersection between neuroscience and architecture. I find that virtual spaces are a great way to learn about how the built environment affects people. These womb-like safe spaces I designed happen to also resemble temazcals, spiritual healing spaces in Mexican culture.
During these months, I explored the potential of virtual gaming environments to facilitate mental healthcare in existing online communities. It is a continuation of the research within the framework of my ongoing Game World Therapy project 'Bump Galaxy', which exists in Minecraft but want to migrate to the metaverse. Here the focus was to explore aesthetics and functional possibilities, specifically within the Somnium Space platform to facilitate therapy.
Somnium Space’s focus on VR makes it apt for immersive social experiences. This means that when it comes to therapy, the possibilities that Somnium Space offers are better suited for activities like talk therapy, drama therapy and art therapy, rather than digital therapeutics.
Meeting one’s therapist in the space turns into a natural conversation like one you have while driving or walking through a park. In these immersive spaces, people encounter something together that would stimulate or curve the conversation during therapy. It could be a question floating in the landscape that you could discuss together, or even a piece of audio.
