What is it about?
Our research is about using digital technologies and virtual reality to recreate and preserve historical buildings and cultural heritage. By using the example of an old apartment building in New Zealand called Gordon Wilson Flats, the researchers show how they used digital technology to document and present the historical significance of the building to the public. Instead of just viewing the decayed exterior of the building, people were able to learn about its history and experience it in a virtual environment. our research also discusses how multimedia and virtual reality can be used to convey authenticity and create meaning in preserving architectural heritage in the digital sphere.
Featured Image
Photo by Francisco Moreno on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Preservation of Cultural Heritage: As time passes, many historical sites and buildings fall into decay or are destroyed. Digitally preserving these sites allows future generations to experience and learn about these important pieces of cultural heritage, even if the physical structure no longer exists. Greater Accessibility: Digital reconstructions can be accessed by anyone worldwide, eliminating geographical and physical barriers. This means that more people can learn about and appreciate these important historical sites. Enhanced Learning and Engagement: Using immersive technologies like virtual reality can make learning about history and architecture more engaging and impactful. It's one thing to read about a place or see photos, and it's another to explore it virtually. Accuracy and Authenticity: Digital technology can accurately capture the architectural features, ambience, and other details of a site, providing an authentic experience. Multi-disciplinary Insights: This type of research can provide valuable insights and advances in various fields, including architecture, history, archaeology, computer science, and education. Future Applications: Techniques developed for digital preservation can be applied to other areas, such as virtual tours of museums, galleries, or real estate, in educational settings for virtual field trips, and more.
Perspectives
Exploring and preserving our architectural heritage is pivotal to my research. Our research tackles accessibility to heritage by using digital technology and virtual reality to "revive" these buildings, allowing people to explore and understand their significance virtually. The Gordon Wilson Flats in New Zealand are considered an icon! We make individuals around the globe explore this architectural piece. Our research raises exciting possibilities for making history and architecture appealing, and we set a new standard for how we preserve and interact with our cultural heritage in the future.
Professor Marc Aurel Schnabel
Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Immersive Architectural Legacies: The Construction of Meaning in Virtual Realities, January 2022, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-77028-0_13.
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