The semester project ‘Hybrid Encounters – Designing Togetherness in VR’ explores how shared experiences, part physical and part virtual, can create new forms of connection between people. It features seven projects by students from the Department of Interior Architecture at HEAD – Genève. Each project pairs a virtual environment with a physical installation, inviting two visitors to meet, move together and feel co-present.
Three selected projects were presented at the Digital Night of the Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF) 2026. Moving between reality and virtuality, each is designed to be experienced in pairs:
‘Sottsass’s Dream’ by Camille Frey and Caroline Favre – a game inspired by Ettore Sottsass.
‘Flying Together’ by Julie Pulfer and Damien Bourgeois – a flight guided by body movements.
‘Elderly Disco Club’ by Siria Petretti and Elisa Wütschert – an intergenerational experience combining rhythm and dance.
Three selected projects were presented at the Digital Night of the Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF) 2026. Moving between reality and virtuality, each is designed to be experienced in pairs:
‘Sottsass’s Dream’ by Camille Frey and Caroline Favre – a game inspired by Ettore Sottsass.
‘Flying Together’ by Julie Pulfer and Damien Bourgeois – a flight guided by body movements.
‘Elderly Disco Club’ by Siria Petretti and Elisa Wütschert – an intergenerational experience combining rhythm and dance.
Under the direction of Simon Husslein, with the assistance of Chiara Kocis.
Head of Department: Dr. Javier Fernández ContrerasScientific Deputy: Valentina De Luigi
Students taking part in the semester project: Damien Bourgeois, Léa Dagonneau, Alexia Dahman, Lalie Drouard, Milena Dubugnon, Caroline Favre, Camille Frey, Samanta Jurkunaite, Siria Petretti, Norah Pittet, Julie Pulfer, Kateryna Sushynska, Thaïs Vene, Elisa Wütschert.
Visiting lecturers and jury members: Lucie Emch, Steye Hallema, Alexia Mathieu, Aida Navarro, Michaela Pnacekova, Sarah Silverblatt-Buser, Alexandrine Stehelin.
XR support: Raphaël Munoz, Chloé MichelExhibition technical support: Raphaël Munoz (Sottsass’s Dream, Elderly Disco Club), Faustine Perillaud (Flying Together)
Images: HEAD – Genève
Film: HEAD – Genève
Head of Department: Dr. Javier Fernández ContrerasScientific Deputy: Valentina De Luigi
Students taking part in the semester project: Damien Bourgeois, Léa Dagonneau, Alexia Dahman, Lalie Drouard, Milena Dubugnon, Caroline Favre, Camille Frey, Samanta Jurkunaite, Siria Petretti, Norah Pittet, Julie Pulfer, Kateryna Sushynska, Thaïs Vene, Elisa Wütschert.
Visiting lecturers and jury members: Lucie Emch, Steye Hallema, Alexia Mathieu, Aida Navarro, Michaela Pnacekova, Sarah Silverblatt-Buser, Alexandrine Stehelin.
XR support: Raphaël Munoz, Chloé MichelExhibition technical support: Raphaël Munoz (Sottsass’s Dream, Elderly Disco Club), Faustine Perillaud (Flying Together)
Images: HEAD – Genève
Film: HEAD – Genève
