Medieval Town of Cherven - 3D Reconstruction

Medieval Town of Cherven3D Reconstruction

The project description

DATE

August 2021

SERVICES

3D Reconstruction

INDUSTRY

Cultural Heritage

Introduction

In the vibrant landscape of 3D visualization, our journey in 2021 ignited an enduring passion for cultural heritage, archaeology, and history. Our odyssey began with a pivotal invitation from the esteemed Regional History Museum of Ruse, beckoning us into the realm of digital archaeology.

Challenged with the formidable task of resurrecting the medieval marvel of Cherven, Bulgaria, we embraced the opportunity to blend artistry with cutting-edge technology. Entrusted with the creation of a mesmerizing 3D reconstruction, our mission was clear: to craft a virtual reality (VR) experience that transcended temporal boundaries, offering museum visitors an immersive journey through the annals of the 14th century.

Driven by our dedication to authenticity and innovation, we embarked on a meticulous endeavor to breathe life into the vestiges of Cherven’s storied past. Our multidisciplinary team of 3D artists, archaeologists, and VR experts embarked on an odyssey of data acquisition, digital modeling, and experiential design, meticulously reconstructing every facet of the ancient town’s architectural splendor.

As we delved deeper into the nuances of historical accuracy and spatial fidelity, our passion for the project blossomed into a relentless pursuit of excellence. Leveraging state-of-the-art photogrammetry techniques, high-fidelity texturing, and dynamic lighting solutions, we endeavored to encapsulate the essence of Cherven’s bygone era with unparalleled precision.

In collaboration with the Regional History Museum of Ruse, our visionary endeavor culminated in the realization of a virtual time capsule, poised to transport museum patrons on an immersive voyage through the corridors of history. Our VR scene serves not only as a testament to the enduring legacy of Cherven but also as a beacon of innovation in the realm of cultural heritage preservation.

Join us as we delve deeper into the intricacies of our journey, unraveling the tapestry of technological ingenuity and historical reverence that defines our pursuit of excellence in the realm of 3D visualization and digital archaeology.

BACKGROUND

Background

For decades now, the Regional History Museum of Ruse has been intricately involved in the meticulous documentation, conservation, and interpretation of the architectural splendor and historical significance of Cherven. Through collaborative efforts with esteemed partners and stakeholders, the museum has endeavored to illuminate the timeless allure of Cherven’s medieval charm, fostering a deeper appreciation for Bulgaria’s rich cultural heritage.

Our journey into the medieval world of Cherven began with careful consideration of its layout and history. Collaborating closely with historians and archaeologists, we set out to understand the unique characteristics of this ancient town.

Cherven was divided into two main areas: the fortified citadel and the outer town. The citadel was home to the ruling class and housed administrative buildings, churches, and the inner castle. In contrast, the outer town was where most people lived and worked. Here, you’d find smaller houses, workshops, and bustling marketplaces.

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE REGIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF RUSE

DIGITAL
RECONSTRUCTION

The city was destroyed and burned to the ground at the end of the 14th century. Since then due to centuries of wear and tear, much of Cherven’s architecture lay in ruins. We relied heavily on the expertise of archaeologists who had been excavating the site for years. Our goal was to gather as much information as possible about the town’s original appearance and layout.

Using advanced 3D technology and working closely with on-site experts, we meticulously reconstructed Cherven’s buildings and streets. Our focus was on accuracy and attention to detail, ensuring that our digital model reflected the town as it would have appeared in the 14th century.

Throughout the project, we remained flexible and open to new discoveries. Archaeological excavations continue to uncover new insights about Cherven’s past, and we were committed to incorporating these findings into our work.

In the end, our efforts resulted in a faithful digital reconstruction of Cherven, offering viewers a glimpse into the town’s vibrant history and architectural heritage.

Photogrammetry & Scanning

With the groundwork laid and our sights set on the task at hand, our journey into the heart of Cherven commenced with a concerted effort to capture its essence in meticulous detail. Employing a multifaceted approach to data acquisition, we combined the precision of aerial and land-based photogrammetry with the versatility of laser and structured light scanning.

Utilizing cutting-edge technology, we embarked on an expedition to document every facet of Cherven’s architectural and archaeological legacy. Armed with drones for aerial surveys and DSLR cameras for ground-level photogrammetry, we meticulously captured the contours of the landscape and the intricacies of its ruins. Despite the challenges posed by scorching temperatures and hardware limitations, our team persevered, ensuring that no stone was left unturned in our quest for authenticity.

The data acquisition process was a labor-intensive endeavor that spanned several days, during which we braved the elements to capture every angle and detail. From the imposing ramparts of the citadel to the labyrinthine alleys of the outer town, our lenses meticulously documented the physical remnants of Cherven’s medieval splendor.

Reconstruction

With our arsenal of data in hand, the real work began — a meticulous journey through the labyrinthine corridors of digital reconstruction. Armed with sophisticated software tools and an unwavering commitment to precision, we embarked on the arduous task of processing and refining the raw data into a coherent digital model

The sheer volume of images and scans posed a formidable challenge, requiring weeks of painstaking effort to sift through and process. Leveraging advanced photogrammetry software such as Reality Capture, we meticulously stitched together the disparate fragments of data, forging a cohesive digital tapestry that mirrored the architectural majesty of Cherven.

Here is a preview on Sketchfab of a small part of the scan, exported in lower resolution, that you can view here:

Digitally Resurrecting Cherven's Artifacts

In parallel with our efforts to reconstruct the town’s architectural landscape, we turned our attention to the smaller artifacts that lay scattered amidst the ruins. Employing the same meticulous scanning techniques, we captured the intricate details of these artifacts, breathing digital life into their ancient forms.

These scanned artifacts served as invaluable additions to our virtual reconstruction, imbuing the final VR scene with a sense of authenticity and immersion. From pottery shards to ancient tools, each artifact provided a tangible link to Cherven’s storied past, enriching the viewer’s experience and deepening their connection to its history.

Production Approach & Methodology

Our friends from the Regional History Museum of Ruse provided a large amount of reference images and information that gave us a general understanding of the architecture of this time period. Other than that, we discussed in length how medieval Bulgarians organized their town, how it functioned, and what materials were used to build it.

In addition, they provided a ton of factual information in the form of research papers, books, etc.

Together, we created a style guide that will help us throughout the project.

Creation of all the individual 3D models

The next step in the process was the creation of all the individual 3D models that will be included in the scene. We figured that we will need all of the pieces that will be used in the creation of the architecture like – doors, windows and covers, roof tiles, staircases, wooden ramps, a crane, etc. We went through the process of carefully modeling those items and optimizing them for the VR scene that will be built in Unreal Engine afterward.

Each one was PBR textured in Substance Painter and prepared in such a way that it could be used individually as well.

Blocking out specifics in the architecture

At the same time, we started blocking out the buildings and walls on top of the 3D scan of the whole area. As you can see in the picture below, we used a few different colors that represent specifics in the architecture.

BLUE

The most important buildings like the castle, the churches, the administration building, etc. Those buildings were done with precision and attention to detail. People used carefully prepared stone blocks and the best materials.

GOLD

The houses of the rich in the town. These were almost always two-story houses that were well made and maintained. The first floor was made out of stone, while the second one was constructed with bricks and wood. Then on top of that, you had the pilaster.

GRAY

The houses of the poor, the manufacturing buildings, and the fortifications around the city. The houses were one storey, made from wood with wooden or straw roofs.

We learned that there were two main streets in the citadel part of the fortified inner city. Those were quite important as much of the trade that happened within the city happened on these streets. People brought out their merchandise in front of their houses and sold it.

In addition to blocking out the position of buildings and streets, in this phase, we also outlined the overall terrain that will be seen in the VR scene. We used the scan of the area and information from Google Maps to build up the surface that will be surrounding the town.

Our approach for the creation of the residential houses was one of modularity. We wanted to create a type of “lego” for the walls, roofs, etc., so that we can easily build as many houses as we needed to. Those were modeled in such a way so that they are tileable and easy to use.

Modularity & uniqueness

Similarly, we applied the same approach to the creation of the churches (of which there were quite a few). The repeating elements were meticulously crafted to complement the unique ones.

There were also a number of unique buildings and elements that were custom-built and did not reuse assets from other architecture. Such was the fortified castle, the wooden crane, and some other elements.

Unreal Engine scene

With all of the major elements created, it was now time to put everything together and build the Unreal Engine scene. The end product would be a virtual reality (VR) walkthrough, so we needed to make sure that it was not too heavy and at the same time put as much detail as possible.

The goal was to build a lot of houses that had similar elements and for that, we needed to properly prep our lego elements of walls, roofs, chimneys, doors, windows, etc.

Slowly but surely, the buildings started taking shape. First, it was a few houses, then a whole street. It took some time to go through the different architectural layouts and make sure that everything fitted together in a realistic way.

Another thing that we kept in mind at all times was the experience of the end user that would be going around town with the help of the VR.

Next, we moved to the important buildings - churches, administration, inner fortress, military buildings, etc.

Of course, this medieval town would be well protected without the city wall. Due to the unique terrain, parts of the wall were thicker, higher, and better built than others. We had to account for that important difference and make sure the architectural remains were followed closely.

3D representations of the markets

One more important historical element was that people in this town (as within any other) traded goods with each other and they used the natural forming open spaces between some of the buildings and right next to the most busy streets. This is why we created some accurate 3D representations of those markets.

With the citadel’s 3D scene now ready, it was time for the creation of the areas where the VR users will be able to go and explore.

The visitors of the History Museum of Ruse can also choose between exploring the Medieval town of Cherven in the 14th century and teleporting to a virtual 3D museum that showcases the current state of the remains (more on that in another case study). So the user is greeted with a choice between the two like so.

In Conclusion

Restoring the medieval town of Cherven to its former glory from the 14th century with the help of 3D technologies, historians, archaeologists, 3D artists (and some luck) was no easy task. We encountered numerous challenges and setbacks along the way as we worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition.

One of the most daunting yet crucial aspects of the endeavor was ensuring historical accuracy. This aspect was of paramount importance to us and to the experts from the History Museum of Ruse. We meticulously adhered to the structural integrity of the town, closely following all visible remains captured in the 3D scan. Additionally, we meticulously integrated historical information and findings into the creation of the 3D models and the overall VR experience.

The production process was not without its fair share of technical difficulties.

Our drones overheated on multiple occasions, necessitating revisits to the site and reiterations of the photogrammetry process. Furthermore, the computation of the terrain proved to be a time-consuming task, requiring meticulous alignment to ensure accuracy.

Despite these challenges, the end result made every effort worthwhile. The final VR experience has attracted an increasing number of visitors to the History Museum of Ruse. Now, everyone can explore this medieval fortress and journey back to the 14th century. Such immersive exhibits are exceptionally engaging for audiences, particularly the younger generations. Museum staff have noted the difficulty people face in envisioning how ancient sites appeared in their prime.

We have addressed this challenge by leveraging 3D technologies and modern solutions to preserve and popularize cultural heritage worldwide.

We are staunch advocates for the harmonious integration of modern technologies and cultural heritage. Historical sites worldwide are in dire need of restoration, preservation, and wider accessibility. Through the meticulous process of 3D scanning, reconstruction, and digitization, we breathe new life into these treasures, ensuring their immortality and accessibility to present and future generations alike.

If you seek a dedicated team to undertake the digital restoration and virtual reconstruction of a historical site, your search ends here. Reach out to us today with your inquiry, and embark on a journey to preserve and celebrate our shared cultural heritage.

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Medieval Town of Cherven3D Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

DIGITAL
RECONSTRUCTION

Photogrammetry & Scanning

Digitally Resurrecting Cherven's Artifacts