www.jonathanwbuckley.com Founder, www.elevarpictures.com & www.artesiannetwork.com

The Idea That Started at Buck’s—and a Client Engagement That Sparked It

I’ve always been fascinated by technology’s ability to capture and preserve the intangible—history, energy, context. So when I found myself having breakfast meetings at Buck’s of Woodside in the early 2000s, I knew the place was special. What I didn’t know was that years later, I would help turn it into a work of digital art.

In 2018–2019, my firm The Artesian Network was engaged by Matterport, the pioneer of 3D spatial capture, to reposition the company and lead a full-scale, multi-channel launch into new verticals like insurance, construction, and cultural preservation. Our integrated campaign—from 3D restaurant mapping to immersive Times Square activations—helped position Matterport for explosive growth and ultimately its IPO.

That client engagement left a lasting impression. It inspired me to ask a bold question: Could we stretch the limits of 3D spatial modeling beyond commercial use—and turn it into art?

Capturing the Soul of Silicon Valley

There was no better subject for that artistic experiment than Buck’s of Woodside, the quirky, legendary, and history-soaked restaurant where the likes of Marc Andreessen, Elon Musk, and Sabeer Bhatia once plotted the future of the internet over waffles.

Together with Buck’s longtime owner, Jamis MacNiven—“The Prime Minister of Silicon Valley”—we set out to create an immersive, digital preservation of this iconic space. Not just a photo gallery or a video tour, but something experiential. Something eternal.

Converging Two Emerging Technologies

The result was a first-of-its-kind experiment that merged two powerful technologies: – Matterport’s 3D Spatial Capture: We scanned Buck’s in 4K HDR, creating a fully immersive digital twin. Users can “walk” through the diner, zoom in on over 100 embedded stories, and access historical artifacts—from a signed Apple I to Shaquille O’Neal’s size 23 shoe. – Blockchain-Powered NFTs: We then tokenized the experience as a unique, ownable piece of art on OpenSea, launching it as the world’s first immersive 3D NFT.

Watch the project video: https://vimeo.com/576128098

A Digital Time Capsule—Minted and Sold

The NFT went live on July 19, 2021, with help from Alchemy. Opening bid: 103 ETH (~$238,000). Final sale: 105 ETH (~$340,000 at the time). More than a collectible, this NFT is a digital time capsule—a tribute to Silicon Valley’s past, encoded into its future. Walk through the virtual space: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=k6RtWhrenma

Why It Matters

This project was more than a novelty. It was a proof-of-concept for what happens when creativity meets cutting-edge tech: – Historical Preservation gets a new medium. – 3D Spatial Modeling transcends enterprise use cases. – NFTs become more than hype—they become experiences.

It also marked the evolution of my own creative path—from venture marketer to digital producer. Through Elevar Pictures, I continue exploring the intersection of storytelling, tech, and media—whether in 3D space, virtual worlds, or traditional formats.

Inspired? You Can Explore or Own a Piece of It

Walk through Buck’s in full 3D: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=k6RtWhrenma

View the NFT: https://opensea.io/collection/bucks-of-woodside?status=listed

Download the Brochure: BUCKS_BROCHURE_FINAL4.pdf

If this project sparks ideas or memories—especially if you ever pitched a startup over pancakes at Buck’s—drop a comment or share your story.