In this year’s 45th edition of the Maria Dokowicz Competition for the Best Graduation Project at the Magdalena Abakanowicz University of Arts in Poznań, the editorial team at whiteMAD magazine was particularly impressed by the project “Museum of Light – interior architecture in the context of augmented reality” by Maciej Kozłowski. We decided to award him a special prize and describe the project in more detail on our website. The Museum of Light project was also on display during the exhibition of the Best UAP Graduation Projects, which concluded on 8 March at the Słodownia Stary Browar venue. Among the 26 projects on display, it was Maciej Kozłowski’s proposal that stood out for its bold approach to contemporary technologies and their influence on shaping new models of spatial perception.
The Museum of Light project is an experimental study of the relationship between architecture and virtual reality. Maciej Kozłowski does not treat architecture as an end in itself, but as a tool – a physical interface guiding the user towards an experience that only fully unfolds in the digital space. This deliberate shift in emphasis aligns with the theme of this year’s edition of the art school’s exhibition: COOPERATION. In this case, cooperation concerns the dialogue between the material and virtual worlds, as well as between the design of space and the design of experiences.
The physical part of the project comprises two types of structures: an urban pavilion intended for large urban areas and a mobile capsule designed for smaller towns. Both solutions function as repeatable modules (templates) that can be deployed in various locations around the world, creating a network of access points to the museum. Maciej Kozłowski deliberately limits their form to the function of introducing the user to the VR experience. These are transitional spaces, devoid of superfluous elements, subordinated to technology and preparing the user for contact with an immaterial environment. At the same time, the project allows for remote participation, which enhances its inclusivity and accessibility.
The actual museum exists in virtual space. It is a seven-stage experience in which light becomes both material and content. It comprises an entrance, a central space serving as a virtual home screen, and five themed rooms: science, sun, colour, nature and culture. Each of these uses light as a tool for visual storytelling, and their form derives from the theme they are designed to explore.
Thanks to VR technology, the museum can be updated and developed without the need for physical alterations to the building’s structure. This is a project that is not confined to a single version – on the contrary, it is designed to evolve and adapt to new needs and technological possibilities.
The exhibition of the Best UAP Graduation Projects, which featured the student’s graduation project, emphasised the importance of creators’ shared responsibility for shaping the community. This year’s works demonstrated that art and design do not operate in isolation, but respond to social, cultural and technological changes. The Museum of Light fitted perfectly into this perspective, proposing a model of an institution that not only tells the story of the world, but also redefines the way in which audiences can experience it.
The Museum of Light is not a building, but an experience – a proposal that blurs the boundaries between the physical and digital worlds. This bold vision may point the way forward for contemporary design.
Title: Museum of Light – interior architecture in the context of augmented reality technology.
Author: Maciej Kozłowski
Supervisor of the practical project: Dr Natalia Kliśko–Walczak, Professor at the University of Arts in Poznań
Supervisor of the theoretical thesis: Dr Ewa Wójtowicz, Professor at the University of Arts in Poznań
Diploma in the field of design.
Faculty of Interior Design and Stage Design, Magdalena Abakanowicz University of Arts in Poznań
Course: Interior Architecture
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