Exploring Portuguese Tiles (Azulejos): Revealing Macau's Cultural Heritage Through Physical Artefacts and an Augmented Reality Experience

Macau's Portuguese tiles, known as azulejos, are historical evidence of Portuguese and Chinese mixed culture. This study focuses on the cultural relevance and significance of Macau’s azulejos to reveal the city's cultural legacy. By the comprehensive analysis of this study, a prototype of a physical artefact integrated with the Augmented Reality (AR) experience is developed to enhance Macau residents’ deeper understanding of the precious azulejos.

The study employs a variety of approaches, including literature studies, interviews, questionnaires, photo collections, and prototype building. Azulejos are endangered due to their historical significance, relationship to Macau and Portuguese history, lack of conservation work, and limited documentation. To preserve and ensure the sustainable development of Macau's azulejos, we plan and construct a physical artefact that combines textile fabrication processes with AR experiences. The study investigates the panel's design technique, integrating features retrieved from actual tiles to create a new textile fabric panel. Furthermore, textile manufacturing techniques such as embroidery machine use and laser engraving are examined. These methodologies offer vibrant and innovative ways to appreciate and explore the stunning azulejos. By combining traditional cultural heritage with contemporary techniques, this research aims to bridge the gap between the past and present, providing novel means to engage with and safeguard Macau's rich cultural heritage embodied in azulejos.