Digital Didactic

Background: Through Patrick Macasaet’s research in the digitisation of architecture design studio pedagogy and its potentials for public engagement in the digital turn at RMIT Architecture, an image was selected to be part of the ‘Back To The Future of Public Space’ travelling exhibition first opened virtually. Curated by Dorotea Ottaviani and Cecilia De Marinis. Contribution: In August 14, 2020 amid the Melbourne pandemic lockdown, an RMIT Master of Architecture design studio titled, ‘After Type Chapter 2: RMIT Docklands Media Precinct’, held a digital public forum in an online virtual social environment. Contributors, speakers, students, and the curious public were represented by avatars of their choice. Originally held in the physical realm, the ‘Forum’ was designed to enable the continuance of an emerging knowledge stream from studio to studio to acknowledge the possible transmission of knowledge from student to student. In 2020, it speculated on the possibilities of the virtual dissemination of knowledge beyond academic walls into a spatialised virtual public sphere. In the background, the event speculated on the spatialisation of future virtual public spaces as potential platforms for immersive, experiential, accessible and didactic forums open for all. The image is a screenshot from a recorded video of the event. Significance: The exhibition “Back to the Future of Public Space: Postcards from 2020” showcases visual international contributions by architects, artists, designers, and activists reflecting on how public space has changed due to the current pandemic. Macasaet’s image and accompanied by a video - was not only an opportunity to exhibit research on projective approaches for architectural pedagogy but was also exhibited at various events alongside contemporaries in an international creative context. It has been exhibited at various international venues and events: Rhizome LLC Lounge, Virginia Tech (US); Media Architecture Biennale 2020; Testing Grounds (AU).