"284 Village", developed by the consortium Coletivo 284, Ambits and Metaphoric for the metaverse, was founded on a genesis of entrepreneurial curatorship based on artistic expression with an innovative proposal.

Lisbon, March 27th, 2023 - The "284 Village" project, developed by the consortium made up of Coletivo 284, Ambits Arquitetura and Metaphoric, aims to explore the potential of the metaverse as a basis for corporate, artistic and business curation.

The private launch event revealed the concept and purpose of the project now available for universal access at https://bit.ly/284Village_Metaverse

The link "transports" the visitor to an immersive site - the metaverse could be defined or understood as a more immersive Internet, an Internet with space - which can also be accessed via cell phone after downloading and registering with the mobile application. Spatial.ioavailable in the Google and Apple stores.

Coletivo 284, founded by a Portuguese businessman, Paulo André, and a Brazilian artist-entrepreneur, Adriana Scartaris, is the common denominator of the partnership responsible for the creation of "284 Village". The project was co-developed in consortium with Ambits and Metaphoric and had as its genesis the creation of a space that was familiar, but with some "design", and based on the "284 Identity".

At the "284 Village", in addition to the "284 Meta" space - which is the starting point for the immersion and functions as a center for culture, major events, exhibitions and congresses - the titular companies Ambits Arquitetura and Metaphoric, responsible for the architectural design and technical implementation of the project, are already installed. They are joined by Madremedia, P55, Traços Interiores and the artist David Reis Pinto. Each one has its own space where they present their skills, products or services, always in a logic of interaction and continuous evolution.

"All companies have to be aligned by a purpose, by some angle of including art, sustainability, partnership, understanding what the sharing economy really is, that's our DNA"Adriana Scartaris, co-founder of Coletivo 284 and creator of the project, sums it up.

The companies that attended the project presentation were carefully selected. The aim was to have managers and decision-makers from companies with which Coletivo 284 identifies, admires and respects the work. "We want partners with us for the challenge of this new world and we know that these are partners"he adds.

The businesswoman also highlights the curatorship as a guarantee of the project's excellence. Like the artists exhibiting in "IMPERFEITA" 1.3, the companies that will be part of "284 Village" will be selected by application. "We don't see ourselves sharing all our knowledge, our entrepreneurship, with anyone who doesn't have the same profile. That's why it's not a space for sale for anyone who wants to buy, for any company that wants to be there."

Excellent curation is one of the basic reasons for the project. "We have a different approach. Obviously we want the project to be known, the more applications the better. But as well as meeting new artists, we also want to meet new companies. That's why we're sticking to this curatorship"says Adriana Scartaris.

Shared vision

The "284 Village" is also the result of reflection and implementation of initiatives by the 284 Collective around innovation and a shared vision of the role of art, artistic heritage and culture in the life of companies and organizations and as a pillar of economic and social development.

Some questions that seem to be a difficulty in the opinion of businesspeople and entrepreneurs, who are not yet familiar with the metaverse, are easily overcome by the technical knowledge of the team. A common question is: do my customers know that my company is in the "284 Village" metaverse?

"Very simple; we create a button on your website and a link that can be replicated on social media and in the newsletter. 284 Village is a project totally focused on the human, social and economic aspect, through immersive experiences in the Metaverse and easy access with any device. It allows the artist, businessman, agent or entrepreneur to be in a gallery with their art or product on display, represented by an avatar, and in the same way as in reality, to be in direct personal contact with the client, thus being able to better explain the characteristics of their business, product or art. This creates the possibility of a sale"says Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of Metaphoric and technical manager of the project.

According to Aníbal Faria, CEO of P55 Art, "284 and P55.ART have teamed up to create an immersive experience in the world of art. We are committed to differentiation and technology as the guiding principle of our company and we have found in 284 the ideal partner for this adventure in the metaverse."

For Madremedia, "The dematerialization of the Metaverse space as a mirror of a real space like Collective 284 can also break down the barrier of time. An event, an exhibition, a performance can be maintained, they gain a place without time. And, paradoxically, an idea that has not yet materialized in physical reality can be traversed here."

"The way we do business has already changed. Today a business agency needs to be in several places simultaneously, and with the same efficiency. Being with Traços Interiores in the metaverse opens up more possibilities and expands our teams' access to a much wider universe of clients"" says Paulo André, CEO of Traços Interiores and co-founder of Coletivo 284.

Endless possibilities

"One of the premises of the '284 Village' project was to think about urban expansion and signage in an organized way. Built on a geometric pattern, this innovative village can grow or shrink in size over time, adapting to the needs and constant change of its community. What sets the "284 Village" apart is the urban planning system, which allows for perfect expansion and contraction. As the village grows, it becomes more complex and diverse, with new spaces for residents and visitors to explore. And as needs change, the village can adapt, contracting without sacrificing functionality or community. This flexibility is made possible by the underlying geometric pattern, which serves as the basis of the architecture. Each building and space is designed to fit into this pattern, creating a harmonious and interconnected environment. And because the pattern is infinitely expandable, the possibilities for growth and evolution are endless"Miguel Sousa, architect and co-founder of Ambits Arquitetura, adds

For artist David Reis Pinto, the "284 Village" "It's a visionary project that looks to the future, but is absolutely determined by the action of the present. As an individual who expresses himself through image, I believe that keeping up with technological means is essential. Here I have the opportunity to be in direct contact with brands, organizations and professionals from all over the world. Without a doubt, the metaverse will revolutionize the commercial world as we know it and make it much more effective".

To explore in the "284 Village"

In the central space "284 Meta" is the metaverse version of the exhibition IMPERFEITA 1.3, a show of paintings and sculptures on display until April 16 at the 284 Gallery in central Lisbon.

In the "version" of the metaverse, all the works in IMPERFEITA 1.3 are replicated and full access to the exhibition is possible, including interaction with the pieces and other visitors to the exhibition. Access is available to numerous visitors simultaneously, making the experience truly universal, both geographically and in terms of accessibility.

The physical exhibition, with free admission, is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, between 14:00 and 19:00. In the metaverse, admission remains free and there are no restrictions on time, location or calendar. The visit can be made at any time, in any place in the world, for as long as the visitor wants and whenever they want. The exhibition can remain open forever.

The P55 Art space presents the P55 private collection exhibition with works by great artists such as Francisco Vidal, JonOne, José de Guimarães, Manuel Cargaleiro, Okuda, Pedrita Studio, Shepard Fairey, Susana Bravo, Vhils and Faile.
Traços Interiores, meanwhile, is presenting products from a number of well-known brands that it agencies, while Madremedia has its studio and space for recordings, talks and presentations in the metaverse. The David Reis Pinto space features an exhibition of the artist's available works, including new ones.

About Collective 284
Coletivo 284 is a unique and immersive space that goes beyond the five senses. This is one of the wishes of the people behind it, Adriana Scartaris and Paulo André, founders and creative directors of Coletivo 284, who believe in the potential of the sum of heterogeneous and independent parts. It is an unusual space in that it brings together an exceptional team of creatives, brands and personalized and identity events, where differentiated collaboration brings a potentially transformative multidisciplinary contribution. The name 284 comes from the two countries, eight creative journeys and four values - connections, humanities, sustainability, innovation - that structure the project.
Additional information at https://coletivo284.com/