Exhibition
Some cultural heritage buildings, monuments and objects are more well-known than others. When we go on holiday, or take visitors to see the highlights of our local area, some attractions are always top of the list. When we visit them, we’re often part of a crowd.
The Twin it! campaign has digitised in 3D some of Europe’s well-visited and intriguing cultural heritage, so we can bypass the crowds, or supplement our visit, taking time to explore close-up, using the 3D models to zoom right in to incredible details, potentially seeing even more than is possible in person.
It’s not just about visitor experience. Digitising these popular sites and items in 3D preserves them in their current state so that any further degradation, caused by time, environment or crowds of visitors, doesn’t mean we’re left without access to our history and heritage.
How can 3D models help us get closer to past civilisations?
Getting close to something that humans created thousands of years ago is a very special experience. But it’s not always possible because these ancient sites and objects are precarious and easily damaged by touch or weather.
It might look innocuous, but this partial wooden wheel isn’t just old, it’s ancient, dating from around 3,200 BCE, meaning it comes from one of the world’s earliest ever wheeled vehicles.
Wet marshy ground with low oxygen levels provides exceptional conservation conditions for organic materials like wood. This wheel was discovered, along with two logboats, by archaeologists taking wood samples in one of the drainage ditches at the ‘Stare gmajne’ pile dwelling near Vrhnika, Slovenia, in 2002.
The wheel is composed of two ash wood plates, joined with four oak wedges. The axle is made from a single piece of oak wood, with a rectangular ending fitting into the opening of the wheel.
The choice of wood, the consideration of how wood moves, and the joinery details all suggest that this was the work of a skilled wheelwright who knew the properties of different types of wood. Due to its technological perfection, this 5,200-year-old-wheel is a unique artefact and provides insight into life in prehistoric times. Now you can get close to every detail through its 3D model.
The Madara Rider is an early medieval rock relief carved on the Madara Plateau in northeastern Bulgaria. The relief has a serious conservation problem - wind erosion, surface water run-off, melting snow, and biological coatings are causing the rock to erode.
The 23-metre-high monument dates to 715 CE and is the only relief of its kind, having no parallel in Europe. As the relief is high up on a cliff wall, visitors can see its horseman striking a lion with his spear, but can’t get close to the historical inscriptions chiselled into the rock. The 3D rendering of the Madara Rider makes that possible and will enable people to enjoy it for a long time to come.
Roman sites make up some of the most-visited ancient sites in Europe. The Twin it! collection includes a rendering of one of the most famous depictions of the God Hercules. The 3D scan of this colossal statue allows you to look at the apples he holds in his hand behind his back, or the signature on the stone beneath the club: ΓΛΥΚΩΝ ΑΘΗΝΑΙΟΣ ΕΠΟΙΕΙ (made by Glykon of Athens).
Heidentor, or ‘Heathen’s Gate’ was built to celebrate military triumphs at Carnuntum, a Roman legionary fortress in Austria.
The gate was once made up of four arches, but only one remains. With one 3D rendering, you can see the ruins of Heidentor as it is today, while with another, you can see a reconstruction and imagine what it would be like to walk through it, to celebrate your military victory, or simply to enter the ancient town of Carnuntum.
How can 3D digitisation contribute to learning?
One of the reasons cultural heritage institutions and sites exist and are maintained is to help people discover the stories of the past - to learn from and remember the challenges and achievements of past societies.
Latvia’s Freedom Monument in Riga was built in memory of those who died in the freedom struggle of Latvia (1918-1920). It is a symbol of Latvian statehood, unity and independence.
The monument was designed by sculptor Kārlis Zāle, who, with his theme of ‘Shine like a star!’, won a design contest instigated by the Latvian prime minister.
Thirteen sculptures and bas-reliefs depict the history and culture of Latvia, combining mythical, allegorical and real historical events. At the top of the 19-metre-high obelisk is a nine-metre-high statue of Liberty, a young woman holding three gilded stars in her hands, symbolising the three main regions of Latvia.
Exploring the monument in 3D means you can look Liberty in the eye, something that’s hard to do from ground level!
The National and University Library in Ljubljana, Slovenia, is a place of knowledge and learning, as well as a monumental building in its own right.
It was built between 1936 and 1941 with a human-centred design by architect Jože Plečnik, and is part of his urban design legacy. Its exterior is reminiscent of a Renaissance palace, while the lobby with its central staircase reflects strong influences of classical architecture.
Explore the 3D building and imagine what this building would mean to the people of Slovenia in 1930s Europe.
The Tartu Old Observatory - which now operates as a museum - is another place for learning, but this time looking up at the skies. It embodies the start of scientific astronomy in Estonia, and has a strong connection to the Estonian national identity, as the first place to fly the Estonian flag in 1988.
Creating the observatory as a digital 3D model will make sure that more people can experience it.
Zekate house is an 18th century historical mansion in the city of Gjirokastër. Its 3D model has been given to Twin it! as a guest entry from Albania.
The house is renowned for its distinctive Ottoman architecture and its well-preserved interior, offering visitors a glimpse into the lifestyle of wealthy Ottoman-era Albanian families. The exterior of the mansion is characterised by its stone walls, narrow windows, and wooden balconies adorned with intricate carvings. It follows the typical layout of Ottoman houses, with multiple floors arranged around a central courtyard. Discover them for yourself with the 3D model.
Today, the Zekate House is open to the public as a museum, offering visitors the opportunity to learn about the history and heritage of Gjirokastër and its inhabitants.
How can 3D models help us understand religious heritage?
Religious buildings and objects often have much to tell us about societies and history over the centuries.
Take this site in Olomouc, Czechia. In prehistoric times, the Morava river ran between three hills - St. Peter, St. Michael and Saint Wenceslaus. St. Wenceslaus hill has been a major trade route and economic hub since the 10th century. It was the seat of the royal Bohemian dynasty for over four centuries, and the place where the Mongol invasion of the West was stopped in its tracks in the 13th century.
As such, the Olomouc Premyslid Castle and Archdiocesan Museum are a focal point of the Moravian presence in European history.
Two 3D models of Petäjävesi Old Church in Finland show us the exterior of the pine wood church as well as a close-up of its pulpit painted blue, red and white, which depicts many figures, including St Christopher.
The church was designed and constructed by master builder Jaakko Klemetinpoika Leppänen and built by local land-owning peasants between 1763 and 1765.
The adaption of forms and techniques of varied provenance makes this church a multi-layered landmark and an outstanding example of Nordic church architecture.
The 3D models are made possible by combining over 7,000 photographs and nearly 600 individual laser scans.
The complex of the Collegiate Church of St. Martin the Bishop of Tours in Opatów is one of the most valuable monuments of Romanesque architecture and one of the best-preserved 12th-century basilicas in Poland.
The Opatów Collegiate Church is home to brilliant Renaissance sepulchral sculptures and houses valuable examples of art from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Krzysztof Szydłowiecki (1466–1532) – owner of Opatów and one of the most powerful nobles of his time - made the Church into his family mausoleum.
Szydłowiecki’s tombstone - also now rendered in 3D - was created in 1533-1541. Its most famous element is the ‘Lament Opatowski’, a brass plate depicting a group of debating figures gathered around a table. The scene is often interpreted as courtiers lamenting the news of the death of Chancellor Szydłowiecki, but its true meaning is not completely clear.
Explore the 3D model to see for yourself.
The Holy Crown of Hungary, also known as the Crown of Saint Stephen, has a legacy spanning over a millennium, embodying the nation's history and royal traditions. Crafted in the 12th century, it has adorned the heads of over 50 monarchs.
The crown weighs over two kilograms and is elliptic in shape. It is larger than a normal human head, so the king had to wear a leather ‘kapa’ liner inside the crown. It is made of gold and decorated with 19 enamel ‘pantokrator’ pictures (Greek for ‘almighty’) as well as semi-precious stones, pearls and almandine.
Since 2000, the Holy Crown has been on display in the central Domed Hall of the Hungarian Parliament Building. It symbolises the sovereignty and enduring spirit of the Hungarian people.