Designing digital experience in interior space: Hybrid spaces at the intersection of art and architecture

Digital culture has influenced the realms of art and architecture, permeating every facet of our existence. The advancements resulting from digitalization have laid the groundwork for hybrid spaces that provide users with immersive digital experiences. The design process of these spaces, serving as a conduit between physical and digital realms, has sparked curiosity and served as a focal point for this research. The objective is to explore the design processes and potentials of hybrid spaces, examining their potential positive and negative consequences while bridging the gap in the literature by providing valuable insights for designers. The imperative to address the hybrid spaces formed through multidisciplinary design processes within the realm of architectural design has served as a guiding principle for this research endeavor. Accordingly, this study was conducted in four phases. In the preparatory phase, a literature review was conducted to develop a theoretical framework. In the data collection phase, information was collected from three sources: analysis of project examples, interviews conducted with design studios, and on-site surveys. In the data analysis phase, the data were analyzed individually and then examined as a cohesive whole. The findings indicate that while hybrid spaces and architectural design processes share similarities, they diverge in terms of technological dominance. They necessitate the collaboration of experts from diverse fields and showcase variations in the range and caliber of tools and methodologies. Furthermore, the findings highlight the substantial potential for proliferation in digital space, showcasing its versatility to be designed for a wide range of functions and purposes. This study explored both the opportunities and risks associated with hybrid spaces and offered practical recommendations for designers and researchers in navigating this evolving domain. This study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Unit of Karadeniz Technical University. Project number: FYL-2022-10153