The Virtualist - Virtualism is a term that signifies a system of virtual and physical realities. The project aims to be an intermediary between the digital and analogue world, a connection point.

The Site - The high streets are a defining part of the community in this area. Split in 2 by a natural hill, the Balsall heath high street sits on the north slope of the hill, whilst the Moseley high street is on the south.

Virtual Analysis - The data gathering yielded quantifiable and objective data. The research was done using #hashtags and tweet location. I was able to map the interactions between users, analysing their reach, sentiment, retweets etc.

Layers of Data - The study revealed key discussion topics around the High street and shows sentiment for the business, especially its role in the community. Subsequently the site's infrastructure was explored in its layers.

Program Diagram - The existing building's spaces were divided in served and serving spaces, allowing for an efficient use of the current structure. A spatial arrangement was formed around these constraints

Design Stages - Four key design elements formed the basis of my form.

VR Pods - These are the key element in the proposal as they are the device that allows the connection between the digital and physical world

Environmental Strategies - The environmental strategy of the design is based on the design for longevity and low operational carbon guidelines. Wherever possible, elements of the existing building have been recycled or repurposed to offset the materials’ carbon footprint.

Internal and External views -