Holy Trinity, Goodramgate, York
Client: The Churches Conservation Trust
Dates: July 2009 - Ongoing
Overview
Heritage Technology, in partnership with Christianity and Culture, is currently working on a pilot project on behalf of the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) to explore the digital interpretation of historic churches. The CCT is a national charity caring for over 340 of England's finest historic churches that are no longer required for regular parish worship — many of which attract significant numbers of visitors a year. The aim of the pilot project is to explore how the presentation/interpretation of these churches might be enhanced through the use of technology. Potential outcomes include on-site touch- or display-screen installations, souvenir CD-ROMs and web-based resources.
Key amongst the CCT's churches is Holy Trinity, Goodramgate, York — the Trust's flagship church. The pilot project will focus upon Holy Trinity as a study in presentation, and will utilise 3D modelling, interactive panoramas and other techniques to inform visitors in a clear and engaging fashion.
Schedule
Phase One of the pilot project was completed in September 2009, in time for the annual CCT volunteers conference, and produced as an outcome a CD-ROM resource. The resource utilised interactive 360° photo-panoramas of Holy Trinity's interior, complete with information hotspots detailing specific elements of interest (see screenshots, right). A comprehensive history of the church and parish was written by scholars at the University of York and included, along with many images, as an interactive, chapterised guide to the church and its past. Finally, a high-quality 3D visualisation of the building's developmental history — from its 11th century beginnings through to the 19th century — provided an engaging insight at how the building came to look as it does today.
The enthusiastic reception of the CD-ROM by the CCT brought about Phase Two of the pilot project: to install a touchscreen version of the CD-ROM within Holy Trinity and monitor its impact upon both visitors and volunteer staff. It is hoped the touchscreen will not only prove a useful and engaging source of information for visitors of all ages, but also aid the volunteer guides who can use the resource as visual support to the information and anecdotes they relate. Phase Two of the pilot project is due for completion in July 2010.
Future work
The success of Phase One of the pilot project, and the anticipated positive response to Phase Two, has led the CCT to approach Heritage Technology and Christianity and Culture in regards to applying this interpretive approach across a range of its high-profile churches as part of a centralised CCT strategy. Talks are underway to begin this large-scale work in Autumn 2010.
Dates: July 2009 - Ongoing
Overview
Heritage Technology, in partnership with Christianity and Culture, is currently working on a pilot project on behalf of the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) to explore the digital interpretation of historic churches. The CCT is a national charity caring for over 340 of England's finest historic churches that are no longer required for regular parish worship — many of which attract significant numbers of visitors a year. The aim of the pilot project is to explore how the presentation/interpretation of these churches might be enhanced through the use of technology. Potential outcomes include on-site touch- or display-screen installations, souvenir CD-ROMs and web-based resources.
Key amongst the CCT's churches is Holy Trinity, Goodramgate, York — the Trust's flagship church. The pilot project will focus upon Holy Trinity as a study in presentation, and will utilise 3D modelling, interactive panoramas and other techniques to inform visitors in a clear and engaging fashion.
Schedule
Phase One of the pilot project was completed in September 2009, in time for the annual CCT volunteers conference, and produced as an outcome a CD-ROM resource. The resource utilised interactive 360° photo-panoramas of Holy Trinity's interior, complete with information hotspots detailing specific elements of interest (see screenshots, right). A comprehensive history of the church and parish was written by scholars at the University of York and included, along with many images, as an interactive, chapterised guide to the church and its past. Finally, a high-quality 3D visualisation of the building's developmental history — from its 11th century beginnings through to the 19th century — provided an engaging insight at how the building came to look as it does today.
The enthusiastic reception of the CD-ROM by the CCT brought about Phase Two of the pilot project: to install a touchscreen version of the CD-ROM within Holy Trinity and monitor its impact upon both visitors and volunteer staff. It is hoped the touchscreen will not only prove a useful and engaging source of information for visitors of all ages, but also aid the volunteer guides who can use the resource as visual support to the information and anecdotes they relate. Phase Two of the pilot project is due for completion in July 2010.
Future work
The success of Phase One of the pilot project, and the anticipated positive response to Phase Two, has led the CCT to approach Heritage Technology and Christianity and Culture in regards to applying this interpretive approach across a range of its high-profile churches as part of a centralised CCT strategy. Talks are underway to begin this large-scale work in Autumn 2010.
11th century Holy Trinity
14th century Holy Trinity
16th century Holy Trinity
18th century Holy Trinity
19th century Holy Trinity
CD-ROM photo-panorama interface
Photo-panorama hotspots
Hotspot information pop-up
3D developmental model panel