1-UP: Simulation of a Fantasy

Abstract

The diploma thesis titled 1-UP: Simulation of a Fantasy (for an island which could be Paxos) explores informal public space as a dynamic realm of interaction, where users actively contribute to the creation of meanings and narratives, ultimately redefining how we engage with and understand public spaces through immersive and participatory experiences.
With the island of Paxos as a site of reference, this diploma thesis seeks both a design protocol and an interpretive framework, through which memory mechanisms will be activated and a dynamic representation of the place can be constructed. In this process, concepts will intertwine, creating a shared cognitive space in the form of an action video game.
Through the analysis of three 'TOKENS' (a tourist souvenir, a historical document, and a personal keepsake), the notions of collective and individual memory are explored, raising questions about the continuum of time and the complexity of experiencing a place.