Thesis project done by: Yihan Yang, Ziyan Zhou
Advisory Group: Immersion Imaging / Imaging Immersion
Thesis Advisors: Amber Bartosh, Mark Linder

Fantasy City studies immersive experiences in theme parks and speculates how the techniques of evoking these sensations could be applied in the city’s everyday spaces. Theme parks are successful products of entertainment culture and consumerism. They are cartoon-like scaled-down cities and wonderlands where one can escape reality. Despite their isolating nature, theme parks trigger economic developments in the surrounding areas as people are willing to pay a significant amount of time and money. This brings up the question: If theme-park-like attractions are embedded in the city’s everyday spaces without boundaries, to what extent can people experience the city from different perspectives and increase the utilization of public spaces?

To activate the city's everyday spaces, the project learns from theme park buildings’ architectural values and attractions’ narrative techniques. The buildings in theme parks not only create functional spaces for visitors but also serve as decorative objects that contribute to the immersive atmosphere. Decorations and interactive devices also enhance the experience. Digital imaging can be used on architecture as a dynamic layer to show different themes accommodating to the surrounding atmosphere.

The project utilizes theme parks’ immersive experience techniques to transform downtown Syracuse into an imaginary land with cultural and historical clues. Syracuse Connective Corridor is a shuttle route that aims to connect downtown and Syracuse University with bicycle lanes, benches, and other interactive installations along the road. By dividing the route into several themed districts with landmarks as the theme initiators, Fantasy City builds a new digital layer of information on the Connective Corridor to enhance the themes. In augmented reality (AR), the project will be accessible for people with phones to explore the city’s streetscape and landmarks vividly.