A trial classification of the determinant criteria for telepresence and virtual in architecture

Concept of `virtual? attracts a great deal of discussion in the architectural discipline. Thisdiscipline not only allows `virtual? to re-create itself in the form of layers but also becomes adistinctive part of the environment in which virtual can develop. When it is thought that livesof human beings are shaped considerably by their sheltering needs, the reason of the specialcloseness in the relationship between the architecture and virtual can be well comprehended.`Virtual? is not disjoint from reality, despite it is often thought to be so. On the contrary,virtuality constitutes a significant layer of reality from a conceptual and cognitive point ofview. Virtual, in that sense, is real yet not concrete. Consequently, talking about virtualarchitecture is equivalent to talking about real architecture, owing to the very nature of theconcept of virtual. Virtual architecture is real architecture and contains as well the potentialarchitecture.In this study, an analytical framework is proposed over the integrated domain of architecture-space-individual-and-roles in attempt at highlighting the cognitive core of `virtual?; keeping inbehind the reduced form presentation of the concept as ?being computer generated?. Theconceptual analysis is followed by the re-synthesis of virtual which benefits much fromspecific references to the rich resources of computer aided applications, both present andpotential.In the framework defined by `architecture place-individual-roles? quad, `presence? reflects asituation of `action? or `inaction?. When it is argued out in the outline of virtual architecture, itgets the form of `remote presence? and includes an `active? situation although it is notconcrete. Perception of space that lies beneath the essence of architecture and activated byvirtual constitutes the core of this thesis. The connection between user roles and remotepresence enriches the overall scenario of this thesis depending on this essence.Different reflections of virtual into the real world, such as computer games, work of cinemaart, fantasy role playing, and communication are analyzed and the resulting constituents areused for making a quintet classification of virtual architecture.Keywords : Virtuality architecture, virtual space, virtual design, digital design, telepresenceJURY:1. Doç. Dr. Murat SOYGEN Ş (Supervisor) Date: 12/10/20052. Doç. Dr. Meral ERDOĞAN Page : 943. Doç. Dr. Sinan Mert ŞENER