On the Central Avenue in Harbin, China, a strong sense of history intertwined with modern vibrancy attracts both locals and tourists. However, merging modernity and historic preservation remains to be a challenge. On the one hand, people worry that over commercialisation is covering the original historic and cultural vibe of Harbin Central Avenue. On the other, limited on-site information about heritage buildings makes it challenging for visitors to learn about the history of Central Avenue.
Harbin ARcollage is designed to solve the problem through three features. First, it provides mapping service that can give visitors an overview of the district and help them navigate the trip when visiting the place. This can reduce the rate of getting lost.
Second, Harbin ARcollage provides systematic and authentic information about historic buildings on the avenue, presented in a visual style inspired by “Art Museum”, to give users the experience just like they are wandering in an architectural art museum.
Third, Harbin ARcollage encourages visitors to scan and get AR models on site then create “city collage” of Harbin, which can be a special souvenir after the trip. This feature enables more interactions between visitors and the place, making their trip more enjoyable and impressive through gamification.
This app product is a digital platform integrating the historic information and AR technology with today’s travelling experience, thus connecting the past and present more effectively, bringing the heritage to the future.
