3D-project

3D-project for saving and digitizing three-dimensional work

C'est notre héritage à tous, pour toujours. – openGLAM

As cultural heritage is at risk, Wikimedians take photos and videos to preserve it digitally. Bassel Karthabil even reconstructed Palmyra in 3D-models while it was destroyed. Parts of his models were presented at the Wikimania 2017 in Montreal. Risks can be wars, natural catastrophes, or fire. In times of multiple crises, potential risks have increased. This project aims to raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage before it's too late.

To preserve objects and monuments before they disappear, UNESCO has published several important documents.

🔗 The current list of cultural heritage at risk can be found on the official UNESCO website.

  History Palmyra

Bassel Karthabil was an active Wikimedian and artist that built the monuments of Palmyra in 3D and then printed them out with a 3D-printer for being able to reconstruct the cultural heritage. Unfortunately he was killed as his activities have been critizised in war time. The question he raised was: How can you share a lost city?

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  Bassel-bel-3
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  3D print displayed at Wikimania, to pay tribute to Bassel Khartabil
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  Column of Palmyra
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  Ryan Merkley, CEO Creative Commons, at the Creative Commons Global Summit 2015

Arch of Triumph – 3D preview model

  Tor Alva (“The White Tower”)

Tor Alva, Romansh for “White Tower,” is a fully 3D-printed building located in Mulegns, Switzerland. It is the “the world’s tallest 3D-printed building,” standing at a height of 30 meters, or approximately 98.43 feet. The tower consists of five floors, connected via a spiral staircase, and topped with a cupola theater. It is supported by ”32 branching columns,“ those of which are ”fully structural, using 3D-printed concrete as a load-bearing material.“ Overall, ”124 3D-printed elements“ were used to construct the tower, with an estimated printing time of 900 hours.

The design and construction of the tower was “[l]ed by the Origen Cultural Foundation in collaboration with ETH Zurich.“ According to the project‘s website, the purpose of the project is: “to create a one-of-a-kind performance space that merges architecture, culture, and science, while also revitalizing a village confronting structural challenges.” It seeks to ”[foster] architectural tourism“ for the town of Mulegns, which has a population of ”only twelve residents“ as of 2025. The tower ”is intended to remain in Mulegns for around five years,“ able to be later ”dismantled and re-erected elsewhere.“

Benjamin Dillenburger and Michael Hansmeyer are the architects who designed the Tor Alva. An ”additive manufacturing process“ was chosen when constructing the individual elements of the tower, ”whereby an industrial robot applies the concrete layer by layer into free-form elements without any supportive casting moulds.“ ”The design is based on complex algorithms that generate the ornamental and the structural aspects at the same time.“ A ”specially developed concrete“ was developed by Robert Flatt, ETH Professor of Physical Chemistry of Building Materials, for use in this project.

  Avalanche prediction through 3D modeling

To protect alpine regions and their inhabitants, researchers at ETH Zurich have developed new 3D-based simulation models that significantly improve the prediction of avalanches — including snow, rock, and ice. These models consider complex mountain terrain and use high-resolution data to simulate how avalanche flows behave.

Thanks to this digital modeling, authorities and communities can better assess risks and plan protective measures, potentially saving lives and infrastructure in mountainous areas.

🔗 Full article: ETH Zurich: New models improve avalanche predictions (2025)

  Project aim 3D

The aim of this project is to experiment with 3D and to share approaches for constructing and reconstructing cultural heritage.

Creating 3D objects means also experimenting with space, identity and fantasy. It can give a voice and a meaning to certain situations. The constructions by Hannesheiner might be inspiring.

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  Spiders
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  Chorus of souls in the mirrorspace

  How 3D digitization works

There are various methods to capture 3D data: photogrammetry builds models from a series of images, laser scanning uses precision light pulses, and manual modeling is used for artistic or lost objects. Open-source tools like Meshroom or Blender are often used.

  Participating in the 3D Project

Would you like to contribute to the project? We welcome everyone interested in 3D documentation and creativity!

You can:

• Upload your own 3D models or artworks to Wikimedia Commons
• Share documentation, tutorials, or ideas on how to use 3D for heritage
• Add links, files, or galleries to the result page

Supported files on Commons:

• 3D projects in .stl format — fully supported with an interactive 3D viewer.
• For other supported file types, see Commons:File types.

Please provide a short description and license when uploading. You can view or interact with 3D files directly on Commons using the 3D viewer.

👉 Please sign below if you want to participate and share your work on the result page.

Taking part:

• --Medea7 (talk) 23:24, 29 January 2025 (UTC)
  
• --Montemaria (talk) 19:43, 16 July 2025 (UTC)
  
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Weblinks

• Unesco danger list
• 3D models by Bassel Karthabil
• New Palmyra
• 3D-animations of Palmyra