When a 3D scene becomes a space for shared memories.

While I was reconstructing an explorable 3D version of my old elementary school classroom (as part of a much, much larger personal project), I added several details based on photos from that time; then, I shared the scene with a couple of friends who, about 30 years ago, were there with me.

One of them noticed the ceiling lights with fluorescent tubes and said:

“You know what just came back to me? There was a paper airplane stuck on top of one of those lights. I remember who had thrown it up there, and I still remember Sister Maria trying to reach it with a broom handle, but she couldn't, so it stayed there.”

None of us had thought about that episode in decades.

After hearing this story, I added a small paper airplane model on top of one of the lights in the scene.

I think it isn't simply another object inside a 3D reconstruction: it's a detail that carries a story with it.

Exploring a reconstructed virtual scene helped my friends and me reconstruct our memories together.