ACIDO Rocket Finalist
Aura: The City As Playground
In cities shaped by speed and efficiency, meaningful connection often gets lost. Many urban dwellers move through public spaces feeling invisible—navigating routine paths while craving depth, beauty, and belonging. AURA responds to this quiet disconnection. It is a multisensory urban exploration system that reawakens the relationship between people and place. Through emotionally aware AI, AR-enhanced storytelling, and reflective design, AURA transforms the city into a living, responsive landscape—where every step uncovers hidden layers of history, culture, and self. Unlike traditional navigation tools that prioritize efficiency, AURA encourages curiosity-driven exploration, where users shape their own urban narratives. Rooted in the philosophy of Urban Flânerie, the project challenges linear, goal-oriented experiences of the city, fostering identity awareness, deep presence, and interaction with space and history. Users engage with their surroundings in ways that transcend navigation—experiencing cities as dynamic landscapes of meaning.
