Birmingham's architecture is being showcased to city centre
visitors through a new iPhone app that allows its users to access
background information, imagery and guided tour routes of
interesting landmarks whilst on the move.
BAApp: Walking Architecture, an iPhone app from the Birmingham
Architectural Association (BAA), was created by digital media and
design agency Substrakt, and utilises location-based technology to
provide users with detailed information about particular buildings
as they move through the city.
Andy Hartwell, managing director at Substrakt, said: "It was
really important to create an application that appealed to both
users who are interested in architecture, and the general public
who either may have an interest in the buildings that they interact
with on a day-to-day basis, or who are visiting and keen to learn
more about their surroundings.
"BAApp: Walking Architecture is free to download and contains
themed walking tours, such as a historical walk around some of
Birmingham's oldest buildings, providing users with an enjoyable,
low-cost activity to participate in when visiting the city
centre".
Substrakt has also designed a website to accompany the app which
allows users to easily create their own walking tours that can then
be shared across social networking sites.
Gavin Orton, president of the Birmingham Architectural
Association, said: "It is important for us to reach new audiences
in Birmingham which is why we were keen to work with Substrakt. The
team is based locally and has a proven track record of working with
location-based applications in an innovative and exciting way that
will appeal to lots of different types of people."
The app was created in partnership between the Royal Institute
of British Architects (RIBA), the Birmingham Architectural
Association and the Birmingham Five Counties Architectural
Association (BFCAA).