Virtual reality (VR) is no longer a foreign concept; for several years now, there has been a significant increase in ticket sales for purely virtual events. VR concerts are becoming increasingly popular, and in the USA, virtual church services have become commonplace. VR headsets are also increasingly found in children's and teenagers' rooms. But can the virtual world be connected to the real world and combined to create a unique experience – as so-called cross reality (XR)? This is the question Anke von der Heide (Hamburg University of Applied Sciences) posed, and in Giessen she found ideal partners for a special project: the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM) and the fire department.

At the beginning of the Corona pandemic, von der Heide had the idea for an XR event platform. This platform would allow real and virtual events to take place simultaneously. Creating a virtual space is possible with just a few clicks and can be used with standard event equipment, but combining it with reality requires suitable premises. The Giessen fire station provides these. Frank Mathes, deputy head of the fire and civil protection department, explains that the current hall will be converted into an event space for plays or concerts. The operational unit will move into a new building, and the volunteer fire department will move into the rear section of the existing building. "The general planning is complete. What's missing is the architectural implementation," says Mathes.

And precisely this digitization for use as an XR environment. Von der Heide presented the corresponding project at THM . In addition to THM and the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (BHT) is also involved in the collaboration. Seminars at all three universities focused on the laser-based digitization of physical spaces suitable for potential future events. The resulting spaces will be further developed into digital event venues. "If we're already online so much, why not use that to make virtual culture tangible?" says von der Heide. Ultimately, everyone will be able to access the XR event platform.

The THMstudents are handling event management, the students from Berlin are responsible for spatial planning and adaptive reuse, and those from Hamburg for virtual interactions. The aim is to combine different perspectives of interactive content. What happens in reality will then also take place simultaneously in the virtual representation, for example, the coloring of a sculpture. Anke von der Heide says that several questions still need to be answered regarding how the virtual environments can be connected to reality: "Will the headset eventually become uncomfortable, and how do you return to virtual reality if you go to the restroom? What about a bar: Does that make sense digitally, and what about the ticket counter, and what about soundproofing? Where should the stage be, what kind of spatial design is needed, and what does that mean for the virtual world?"

The entire project will be presented at the "Festival of the Future" at the Deutsches Museum in Munich from July 6th to 8th, 2023. This is supported by the XR Hub Bavaria. The entire project can also be viewed and experienced during a virtual visit.