Place (Interactive VR Experience)

• Producers/Client: High Road Stories (Mike Robbins & Harmke Heezen)
• Showcased At:
  • DOK Leipzig (Prototype)
  • Docaviv Film Festival (Prototype)
  • Israel Museum, Jerusalem (Exhibited since late 2022 - Present)
• Year: 2022-Present
• My Role: Interactive Sound Designer

Project Overview

“Place VR” is an immersive virtual reality experience that digitally reconstructs and revives the historic Great Synagogue of Aleppo. The project allows participants to explore this significant cultural heritage site, engaging with its digital walls and the collective memories it holds. It’s conceived as an “archaeological reconstruction with the senses,” aiming to provide a profound connection to the place and its history.

Key Responsibilities & Contributions in Sound

• Immersive Soundscape Creation: My primary goal was to recreate the authentic atmosphere and feeling of being present within the Great Synagogue of Aleppo. This involved crafting a soundscape that was both historically evocative and sensorially engaging.
• Integration of Archival and Contemporary Audio: I sourced and integrated archival sounds related to Aleppo and its soundscape, blending them with contemporary recordings and originally designed audio elements. This fusion aimed to transport the listener back in time and connect them with the environment of the historic Synagogue.
• Sound Design for VR Interaction: Ensured that the sound design responded appropriately to user interaction within the VR environment, contributing to a cohesive and believable experience.