James Delaney (Managing Director, BlockWorks, Chairman, The Block by Block Foundation)
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Talk Abstract:
The videogame industry is at the forefront of how digital space is being conceived, designed and inhabited, and yet architects and urban designers are rarely to be seen in the creation of these new virtual environments. This talk will explore the emerging field of video game urbanism and make a case for why architects should consider the medium of games as an important site for architectural research and practice. The talk will also present a series of case studies from the field, with a specific focus on virtual spaces as sites of resistance and digital activism, community empowerment and resilience.
Bio:
James is the Chairman of The Block by Block Foundation, a non-profit partnership between UN-Habitat and Microsoft which uses Minecraft as a community participation tool in urban design, helping youth and disempowered groups design and build public spaces in their own city.
James is also the founder of BlockWorks, a design studio producing metaverse experiences inside video games. From gamified digital twins to projects like The Uncensored Library, BlockWorks has pioneered the use of game platforms to create inspiring and innovative virtual spaces. James lectures at The Bartlett on the history and theory of videogames, and how it relates to architectural practice.