Report from Corporeal_ArtEZ #8 May 2025

Report: Report from Corpo-real #8

Corpo-real/ArtEZ Master Interior Architecture

May 2025

Report from Corpo-real #8

May 2025

Escaping in architecture

I

The Wall and the Shadows’ by Fjodor Sologoeb, penned over

of wandering through a beautifully rendered landscape, games

core values of life can be a challenge. In today’s digital age,

120 years ago. The narrative recounts the tale of a young boy

provide a sense of presence and immersion that is unmatched.

individuals increasingly find solace and enjoyment in social

who delves into a fantasy world, driven by his enchantment with

media, games, movies and series, providing an escape from

shadows dancing on the wall.

n a world flooded with concerns, encompassing politics,

that triggered my imagination. The examination of an imaginary

Whether it’s the thrill of embarking on epic quests, the

into architectural features to craft tangible and immersive

climate crises, work-related stress and societal

realm shrouded in the physical world is also a topic in the book

satisfaction of solving intricate puzzles, or the simple pleasure

escapism experiences.

expectations, maintaining a constant focus on the positive

the pressures and monotony of daily life.

By Launa Visser

Looking forward: Reimagining the chemotherapy treatment room

This ability to transport and immerse is what makes games so

With the knowledge I’ve acquired, I aim to make a positive

enchanting. They blend art, technology, and storytelling into an

impact on the tangible world around me. It’s a desire rooted

Creating stories and embracing fantasy to escape reality have

interactive experience that captivates the senses and engages

in a personal history fraught with the harsh realities of illness,

My thesis and graduation project focus on ‘escapism’, the

been familiar practices throughout human history. Today’s

the mind. For me, the allure of these immersive digital spaces

particularly my mother’s battle with lymphoma—a struggle

psychological urge to seek escape from reality. It is a desire

digitization offers enhanced opportunities for visualizing these

lies not just in their visual splendor but in the feeling of being

that has shadowed my life since childhood. Reflecting on my

to temporarily forget the burdens of everyday life, allowing

imaginative realms, making it easier to escape into these new

part of a living, breathing world where every adventure is just a

parents’ struggle with this disease, has now inspired me to

problems, negative emotions and obligations to fade into the

worlds. Yet, it sacrifices something invaluable - engagement

step away.

seek ways to ease the challenges encountered by patients

background . My own desire for escape can be traced back to

in our physical surroundings. The physical, spatial features in

my formative years when I experienced a significant loss, my

my room that ignited my imagination highlight the potential

So... what’s the problem?

mother’s passing, at the age of 14. To get through this period

for a more immersive and mindful form of escape in space. Is

This very allure can lead to a significant detachment from

the sterile rooms, the clinical procedures, and the poignant

of anxiety, sadness and listlessness, I started seeking comfort

it possible to create a landscape filled with stimulating spatial

physical reality. The highly engaging environments and

scent of chemo, linger as haunting memories. I believe there’s

in the creation of new realities. Which I mostly found in digital

elements, allowing people to immerse themselves in fantasy

compelling narratives of games have the power to absorb

an opportunity to improve this experience by incorporating

realms such as games, movies and series. Now, a decade later,

and escape reality more mindfully?

players completely, often causing them to lose track of time

elements of escapism into the design of these spaces. Now, as I

and neglect real-world responsibilities and social interactions.

reflect on my journey, I am driven by a singular question:

1

Reimagining the chemotherapy treatment room

5

I still occasionally find myself teetering on the edge of those

undergoing treatment, especially during chemotherapy sessions. The stark environment of the treatment centres—

hard emotions, certain days resurface where I struggle to grasp

I think so and this is the point where my love for architecture

This phenomenon, where the virtual experience becomes so

reality. Instead of confronting my emotions, I seek solace in

becomes present. Architecture’s unique capacity to engage with

enticing that it overshadows the physical reality, presents a

How can I harness the power of escapism to alleviate the

escaping to these alternate, digital realities.

the physical space can also serve as a conduit for stimulating

dual- edged sword: it enriches the gaming experience but can

burden of chemotherapy for patients undergoing treatment?

the imagination. By using different components and designing

also result in adverse effects on one’s physical and mental

My aim is to reimagine the chemotherapy day unit, infusing it

My head is looking for something positive and that’s where the

methods, architecture has the ability to impact our senses,

well-being. Understanding and addressing this balance between

with elements of whimsy and comfort, offering respite amidst

substance dopamine comes in. Dopamine, often hailed as the

evoke powerful emotions and craft immersive atmospheres. My

virtual immersion and real- world engagement is essential for

the challenges of illness. It’s a project that embodies not only

brain’s anticipation to “feel good”, is a chemical messenger that

research delves into how architectural design can stimulate

promoting healthy gaming habits.

academic inquiry but also a deeply personal quest to bring

plays a pivotal role in numerous aspects of human experience.

a feeling of escapism and create a profound connection with

It is a tiny molecule with an outsized impact, influencing our

the physical environment that we are losing because of the

Being the NPC

mood, motivation, learning and movement2. In today’s digital

miracles from the digital world.

Non-Playable Characters (NPCs) are essential components in

world, receiving new, fast-paced dopamine impulses is no

video games, contributing to the depth, interactivity, and overall

longer a big deal. Digitization is, in many ways, a blessing but it

Many before me, found ways of turning spaces into more

immersion of the game world. Unlike the player character,

can also become a problem. We have become addicted to these

than just physical structures. Escapism techniques are seen

NPCs are controlled by the game’s artificial intelligence (AI) and

brief impulses we gain online and can hardly live without them.

in spatial elements like alienation (a copy of the Eiffel tower

serve a variety of roles, enhancing the gameplay experience in

in China ), labyrinths (the myth of the Minotaur in Greek 6

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more daily activities

mythology7) and illusion (Palazo Spada8 in Rome or the Garden

have begun to take place online3. The impersonal and flat

of Bomarzo9).

aspect of these recent developments extinguishes the spark

numerous ways.

The objective of my experiment was to embody the role of an NPC in a real-world setting. By doing so, I aimed to explore the

of imagination in many people. This detachment with reality

Even stories have been told in architectural designs like the

social dynamics of invisibility and presence and observe how

manifests itself as reduced physical activity, social isolation

Danteum, where architect Giuseppe Terragni aimed to translate

people react (or do not react) to someone who deliberately

and a diminished appreciation for the natural environment,

the narrative and themes of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy

adopts the behaviors and demeanor of an NPC.

impacting mental health, social interactions and environmental

into an architectural experience. Terragni sought to capture

consciousness.

the essence of Dante’s poem through spatial design, intending

The physical space: Paraboxy and Paraboxy 2.0

the building to physically embody the poet’s journey through

My interest lies in discovering methods that can facilitate

So, this pervasive culture of digital escapism has led to a

different realms. The architectural spaces were conceived to

escape in the physical space through the use of spatial design

paradoxical situation: while these virtual experiences provide

evoke the emotions, symbolism and progression found within

elements. To explore this, I designed and built an installation

temporary joy and relief, they often result in a detachment from

the Divine Comedy, allowing visitors to physically traverse and

called Paraboxy, intended to help individuals mentally let go and

the tangible reality and a loss of meaningful connection with

experience the emotional and metaphysical aspects of Dante’s

focus on surrendering to the environment. By integrating the

the physical world4. Is there a way to translate the potentially

narrative.

key elements, darkness, height, cold water, sound, narrowness

fostering more meaningful, comforting and maybe even healing

I can learn from these references of architectural escapism,

allowing participants to momentarily let go of their real-world

experiences?

but I am looking for a more diverse research in which I will find

concerns and immerse themselves entirely in the designed

answers in the media that made me fall in love with fantasy in

environment.

1

StudySmarter, “Escapism: Definition, Effects & Causes.”

2

InsightJunky, “Escape the dopamine trap & reclaim your mind”

3

Ministerie van Algemene Zaken, “Coronacrisis vraagt om debat over digitalisering.”

4

Calleja, “Digital Games and Escapism.”

5

“Reality and Escape: Sologub’s ‘The Wall and the Shadows’ on JSTOR.”

6

Khan, “Parijs of Tianducheng? De opmars van kopieën van westerse steden in

7

Shapland, “Mythsof the Labyrinth.”

8

Ugc, “Borromini’s Perspective Gallery of Palazzo Spada.”

9

Haasse, [De Tuinen van Bomarzo]: “Ik wilde naar Bomarzo. Wat ik daar hoopte te

China.”

vinden, had ik niet kunnen zeggen, maar ik had die tuinen nodig, al wist ik niet hoe en waarom” (“I wanted to go to Bomarzo. What I hoped to find there, I had. I could not have said, but I needed those gardens, though I did not know how or why.”), p. 3

the first place. Could there be valuable lessons for me in other

Escaping from the pressures of everyday life is something

media where I’ve felt some kind of escape? What is it about

In the installation Paraboxy 2.0 I explored how to bridge the

people have been doing for a very long time. Before computers

games, movies, art installations and leisure spaces that makes

boundary between physical and imaginary spaces, focusing

and phones, they found ways to take a break from reality

them effective for providing an escape from reality?

on what lies in-between and how one transitions from one to

through different activities. I began exploring ways to escape

References

the installation aimed to create a physical and mental escape,

positive elements of digital spaces into the physical realm,

Escaping reality

solace to those confronting the darkness of disease.

the other. This project aimed to stimulate imagination, allowing

the physical world without relying on my usual digital tools.

The digital space: immersive spaces in games

This “Digital Escapism Detox” experiment entailed refraining

The digital space of games is a marvel of modern technology

the key elements height, light and layers, the installation

from any form of digital escapism for a full week. Engaging in

and creativity. It’s a realm where imagination comes to life,

created depth and complexity, inviting participants to be

activities like sports and cleaning provided a way to occupy my

crafted with intricate details and breathtaking aesthetics. The

sucked into the space, feeling as though they were transitioning

time and temporarily ease my thoughts, but they didn’t quite

immersive environments found in games are not just visually

from the physical world to an imaginary one. The white, layered

offer the same sensation of being transported to another world.

stunning but are meticulously designed to draw players into

paper environment blurred the boundaries between reality

Therefore, I tried to find solace in an escapist tool that has an

another world.

and imagination, encouraging a journey of mental and sensory

participants to feel transported to another realm. By integrating

exploration.

even longer history: reading. This ignited something within me, as diving into the story provided a gateway to my imagination,

I love how detailed and pretty these virtual landscapes are.

offering a foundation for a more immersive escape.

Every element, from the lush forests and towering mountains to

Practice based research: escaping

About Launa Visser

the bustling cities and serene villages, is crafted with an artistic

in architecture

Launa Visser is a practice-based researcher, navigating through

What surprised me most was the contradiction I discovered

touch that makes exploration a joy. The attention to detail in

In addition to my theoretical research, my artistic exploration

a large variety of media in an even larger variety of spaces, while

when I decided to remove all escapism methods, whether

textures, lighting, and soundscapes creates an atmosphere that

through the experiments with Paraboxy and Paraboxy 2.0

always returning to the perspective of the relationship between

physical or digital. As I simply sat and absorbed the physical

feels alive, inviting players to lose themselves in the beauty of

has deepened my understanding. My case studies delved

bodies and space. Within her research, she has developed a

environment around me, I found solace in the existing stimuli.

these digital creations.

into various forms of media known for their ability to provide

remarkable framework of working methods.

escapism—such as games, movies, art installations, and

For instance, the echoing footsteps of my roommate above my bed or the play of flickering candlelight in the darkness, casting

Games offer experiences that go beyond passive observation,

leisure spaces. From these case studies, I’ve gathered

Email: hallo@studiolauna.nl

intricate shadows throughout my room, both spatial elements

allowing you to interact with and influence the environment.

numerous design elements that I think can be transformed

LinkedIn: Launa Visser

With this Corpo-real report we proudly present an excellent example of the diverse artistic expressions of our community. Corpo-real is a unique, international, twoyear full-time master programme in the field of Interior Architecture focusing on the endlessly changing relationship between bodies and space. In the title Corpo-real ‘corpo’ stands for bodies in general and ‘real’ for the reality that surrounds them.

Corpo-real is located in Zwolle, where students and tutors develop a researchdriven spatial design practice geared towards an unknown future. The current reality of new unfolding societal and political structures, discrimination, gender issues, scientific and technological developments challenge us in profound ways.

We invite our students to address recent and future societal changes, based on an understanding that whatever has worked well in the past may not be sufficient in the future, and that many of these changes are too broad and complex to address using existing methods. Therefore, we encourage our students to make good use of knowledge from other disciplines, through collaborations within and outside ArtEZ. Throughout the programme, students are introduced to, and learn to work with, research methods from various disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, theatre, curating, or literature.

Corpo-real is particularly focused on the connection between theoretical thinking, reflecting and the practice-based research. The fruitful meeting between these research methods in recent Finals projects shows that it leads to new findings and perspectives for the professional field. During the first year, students develop a theoretical research question, which they will then consolidate during the first half of the second year in the form of a written paper, while also exploring and challenging during this second year their theory through artistic and practice-based research.

For their final thesis, of which this is a good example, presented during the final exam at the end of the second year, students are asked to demonstrate how the theory and the practice-based research are interconnected. And how this has led to new findings and insights.

W corpo-real.artez.nl E corporeal@artez.nl I corporeal.artez

Colophon Tutors Michel Melenhorst, Paper supervisor Eric de Leeuw, Finals tutor Lucia Luptáková, Finals tutor Editor Launa Visser Roos Krootjes Ingrid van Zanten Photography Launa Visser Nico van Maanen Ingrid van Zanten Graphic Design Office for Design, Loek Kemming Inge van Keulen Printing Drukkerij Loor, Varsseveld