Gamification and Storytelling for Architectural History and Cultural Heritage Awareness

Abstract

Many people, fail to connect with the multi-layered city they live in and with its past. When the reflections of the culture, cannot be distinguished on various buildings, the architectural heritage of the cities can be overlooked and might be consciously or unconsciously destroyed. Unfortunately, present architectural history or cultural heritage conservation courses do not help to adequately establish a healthy relationship between residents and the city or the cultural site that needs to be protected. In order to fill this critical gap, we have recently proposed an EU project and this paper presents the objectives, partners, methodology and prospective implementations of the project, namely “Palimpsest Cities”, which aims to create an alternative, innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum of a new course supported with gamification and storytelling techniques. The project aims to test this approach through various implementations in partner universities and collaborations with local governments and professional organizations. It aims to deliver the content of this innovative course to whole residents of the city, with a special emphasis on social inclusion of disadvantaged groups. Likewise, this paper will be an important opportunity to disseminate the project before its kick-off and contribute to essential network our project is seeking for.