Hybrid Heritage Spaces: HBIM, Embodiment, Human-Centric WebVR, and Accessibility in Browser-Based 3D Game Engines

This contribution is situated within the contemporary debate of UID research, offering a critical reflection on the role of digital representation of built heritage as an integrative and complementary device to the traditional museum, with particular reference to heritage conservation and virtual heritage. In response to the growing need to expand accessibility, narrative quality, and public engagement, the paper investigates the use of browser-based 3D game engines and cloud-oriented platforms to design interactive environments that support on-site experiences and extend them into the virtual domain. The originality of the contribution lies in shifting the focus from traditional immersive VR toward WebVR solutions conceived as cognitive, narrative, and interactive spaces, accessible both on-site and remotely. Within this framework, survey data and heritage building information modeling (HBIM) are not merely technical supports but infrastructures of memory and storytelling, enabling advanced forms of heritage communication such as virtual museums and digital exploratory paths. The case study of Villa Arconati demonstrates how survey and information modelling can act as design tools for developing interactive experiences oriented toward spatial understanding and the reactivation of place memory.