From Smartphone 3D Scanning to Parametric Form-finding, AR and VR Simulation for Interpreting the Lost Hejazi Architecture – A Digital Interactive Experience of Lawrence of Arabia’s House in Yanbu Historic District, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to develop an innovative and interactive framework using computational design tools and extended reality (XR) technologies to interpret and speculate on the lost Roshan window of Lawrence of Arabia’s House at the Yanbu heritage site toward the cultural sustainability of Yanbu city. This multidiscipline study involved history, computer-aided design, computer graphics and digital fabrication to explore beyond what the author has learned. The motivations for this research came from different factors: (1) there has been minimal architectural research on the area of old Yanbu, and almost no study has investigated the role of computational design tools and XR technology for examining the heritage site; (2) it has been recommended that future research apply computational design for social and cultural sustainability; (3) the Saudi Ministry of Culture is developing the heritage site and establishing the Red Sea museum; thus, there is an opportunity to contribute to this project by developing an interactive framework for the Rea Sea (Hijaz) architecture. The methodology of this study comprised five aspects: (1) data collection, (2) documentation by smartphone 3D scanning, (3) form-finding interpretation by using Rhino-Grasshopper, (4) developing augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) simulations of the Roshan window and heritage site developed by Unity-3D and other support software and platforms, and (5) digital fabrication of the Roshan window by 3D printing and a laser cutter. Figure 1 illustrates the workflow of the research. The results generated eight different Roshan window possibilities and AR and VR simulations via an iOS app and Oculus Quest-2 as well as their digital fabrication by 3D printing and laser cutting. The results met most of the research aims and objectives, except the aspect of testing and measuring the impact of this study on the local community and its contributions to the cultural sustainability of Yanbu. However, the limitations of this study and future research directions regarding this aspect are addressed at the end of this dissertation.