The Unitec School of Architecture is preserving our oldest buildings with the latest technology, using 3D modelling to record heritage buildings in digital form.
The project aims to provide information on vulnerable or abandoned historical and heritage buildings for the purposes of restoration, preservation, and maintenance, Associate professor Renata Jadresin Milic tells Wallace Chapman.
“To do that, we do still integrate traditional analog knowledge and skills and surveying techniques, but we have emphasis on instrumental or digital methods of heritage surveying,” Milic says.
“We practically use modern technology, we use leader photogrammetric technology, we did use so far laser scanners, drone capturing and after all we have that digital data then we do 3D modelling of the building.”
The project team have applied this technology on to Pt Chevalier’s Building One, which used to be known as the Whau Lunatic Asylum when it was first built in 1865.
“The building is a notable example I would say of 19th century architecture,” Milic says.
“It was at the time the largest building in the colony and it still has intact elements from each of the few periods of significant building construction that existed in the history of the building.
“The building has enormously beautiful exterior and internal elements but at the time when it was built I find that it didn’t share the daunting appearance that many similar institutions in New Zealand have had at that time.
“Overall, the composition of the building is not fortress-like, it’s not scary from the outside.”
Since then, the building has undergone dramatic changes, she says, having been taken over by Unitec and now purchased by the government with Heritage NZ recognising it as category one.
We need to document our buildings to preserve the culture and local character of the country for future generations, she says.
“But also to practically think about meeting climate change and environmental emissions targets so to prevent material sent to the landfill.
“All our organisations believe that repair and maintenance at any stage of a building’s life is incredibly important so that it may be in existence for future generations as well as being environmentally-friendly by reducing any unnecessary waste of materials that could happen if we don’t do things on time.”
When she moved to New Zealand, she was surprised to see important buildings in derelict states and on the verge of demolition, she says.
“That should not happen, that’s something that kind of needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
“I do feel that heritage is important topic for so many reasons and it’s now time where we can really rely on that digital technology to help us and that’s what we’re doing.”
