CoVHer was created in response to the growing importance of 3D reconstruction in architectural heritage research. At a time when films, games, and VR applications increasingly recreate history through visuals, the need has emerged to clearly distinguish 3D models based on scientific research from those produced without source verification. By maintaining proper discipline and documentation of actions, even reconstructions based on limited data can have greater scientific value than creations made for popular culture purposes.

The goal of the CoVHer project was to develop methodologies, standards, and educational materials that enable the creation of reliable digital models of non-existent or unrealized architectural structures ranging from demolished temples and urban buildings to constructions known only from designs or descriptions. These efforts are directed toward a wide audience, including architects and architectural historians, as well as historians, archaeologists, and IT specialists interested in this field.

Warsaw University of Technology in an international research team

The project was carried out by an international consortium composed of universities: Università di Bologna (project coordinator), Warsaw University of Technology, Hochschule Mainz, Universidade do Porto, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, along with two partners from the creative sector: La Tempesta and IGSD e.V.

The Warsaw University of Technology team included Prof. Krzysztof Koszewski, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, as well as doctoral students Jakub Franczuk and Karol Argasiński. They actively contributed to the development of methodological standards, the preparation of educational materials, and scientific publications.

Participants of the CoVHer project during a meeting at the Faculty of Architecture of Warsaw University of Technology

“The CoVHer project, aimed at developing a methodology for virtual hypothetical reconstructions, has made us realize how complex and delicate the intersection of humanities and technical sciences really is,” says Prof. Krzysztof Koszewski. “Each specialist representing the institutions involved in the grant presented a perspective aligned with the specifics of their discipline, and reconciling them into one cohesive vision-method was quite a challenge. It must be added that it was also immensely educational and rewarding.”

As part of the project activities, the team from Warsaw University of Technology was also responsible for the digital reconstruction of the Roman forum in the ancient city of Musti, Tunisia, carried out in collaboration with archaeologists from the University of Warsaw under the direction of Prof. Tomasz Waliszewski. The archaeological research utilized state-of-the-art methods such as photogrammetry and 3D scanning, and the collected data was used to develop a model for the CoVHer project database. Meanwhile, teams from other countries worked on models, including those of destroyed synagogues in Poland, using data gathered during inventory work conducted by students from the Warsaw University of Technology.

Three years of scientific meetings and international workshops

One of the pillars of the project was education through practice. From 2022 until the end of 2024, researchers and students from partner universities participated in international workshops held in Warsaw, Barcelona, Mainz, and Porto. These meetings combined lectures, working sessions, project presentations, and study visits to sites related to the researched heritage.

Students from Warsaw University of Technology who worked in international teams on reconstruction projects of lost or unrealized structures also participated in each workshop. The results of these efforts were showcased during open Multiplier Event gatherings, including in Mainz, at the EuroMed conference in Cyprus, and at the Faculty of Architecture of the Warsaw University of Technology in Warsaw.

Project outcomes: scientific publications, an educational platform, and an open model database

As part of the CoVHer project, a handbook of best practices in 3D modelling and a glossary of terms and standards were developed, with contributions from researchers at our university. These publications aimed to bring order to the terminological and technical chaos in this rapidly evolving field. The project also resulted in a scientific article published by Springer Nature in the volume 3D Research Challenges in Cultural Heritage V. This publication, co-authored by the team from the Warsaw University of Technology, presents the methodology for creating and documenting digital reconstructions of non-existent architectural structures. Link to the list of publications: covher.eu/resources-2. More information about the virtual reconstruction of the gateway arch in Musti can be found in the article available at: x.doi.org/10.4995/var.2024.22543.

An open repository of 3D models has also been created, which—unlike existing platforms—is entirely dedicated to non-existent structures. It contains not only ready-made models but also source data, documentation, and links to scientific publications. The repository serves two complementary functions: on one hand, it provides specialists with a tool for analysis and scientific publication, while on the other, it makes models accessible to the wider public, supporting education and the promotion of heritage. Link to the 3D repository: repository.covher.eu.

A parallel initiative also led to the creation of an online course (MOOC), available on the educational platform BOOK (Unibo Open Knowledge). The course features video training sessions with researchers involved in the project, who introduce students and young scholars to the world of 3D reconstruction in an accessible way. They provide guidance on working with methodology, data formats, and principles for publishing models. Link to the online courses: covher.eu/innovative-didactic-modules-videos.

The CoVHer project team during workshops with students in Porto, 9/2024

The boundary between representation and reconstruction

“When virtually reconstructing non-existent objects from the past, we must be aware that we are always dealing with a certain degree of uncertainty, which we should clearly communicate,” explains Prof. Koszewski. “One of the main topics of discussion within the project was how to present the results of our work in a way that conveys this uncertainty while maintaining the visual appeal of the representation.”

In a mass culture dominated by visual communication, reconstructions of the past – often presented in films or video games – shape our collective historical imagination. That is why one of the goals of the CoVHer project was to establish a clear boundary between vision and reconstruction, between fiction and a source-documented representation of the past.