Host: Elvira Crois, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

Visitor: Bob Lundgreen, Nyskaben, Denmark

Elvira Crois, researcher in Arts Education at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium), and Bob Lundgreen from the Danish art collective Nyskaben, are developing a virtual reality experience centered on geological heritage. The project will offer a multi-user (10+ visitors) VR exploration of a 3D scan of a real underground cave, enriched with science-based interactive narratives about the powerful forces and hidden histories beneath the surface.

The experience will be implemented in MUCO—an open-source platform designed for accessible, portable, and economically viable VR experiences in public spaces. Developed in collaboration with Nyskaben, Phenomenal Viborg, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the Institute of Natural Sciences, and others, this social VR setting invites families, friends, and school groups into a playful yet educational environment.

By integrating high-resolution 3D cave scans (enabled by Hannibal Glaser, Phenomenal Viborg) with interactive visual elements and spatial sound, the project transforms real geological heritage into an immersive, scientifically grounded, and engaging experience.

Through collaboration between a game designer, an arts education researcher, and a geologist, the project exemplifies cross-disciplinary innovation. It merges entertainment, education, and research to advance digital heritage preservation and push the boundaries of play-based learning with emerging technologies.

The project takes place in Brussels and in the Hotton cave in the Belgian Ardennes at the beginning of September—stay tuned for the outcomes!

Image from the Han cave © Oscar Louw