Digital 3D reconstructions of synagogues for an innovative approach on Jewish architectural heritage in East Central Europe

Jan Lutteroth

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4554-0874

Germany

University of Applied Sciences Mainz image/svg+xml

Jan Lutteroth is an architectural historian who completed his PhD in 2022 on the 3D reconstruction of the Munich Residence. Since 2022, Tandem Professor for Computer Science and Visualization in Architecture at the Hochschule Mainz – University of Applied Sciences Mainz and Research Fellow at the Herder Institute for Historical Research on East Central Europe in Marburg. His interests include Heritage Building Information Modeling and standards for digital 3D reconstruction of cultural heritage.

Piotr Kuroczyński

Germany

University of Applied Sciences Mainz image/svg+xml

Piotr Kuroczyński is an architect specializing in the field of digital 3D reconstruction, documentation and visualization of cultural heritage. Since 2017 he has been Professor for Computer Science and Visualization in Architecture at the Hochschule Mainz – University of Applied Sciences Mainz. Since 2018 he is the head of the Institute of Architecture and the chief-in-editor of the book series Computing in Art and Architecture at the Heidelberg University Library.

Igor Piotr Bajena

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0419-9171

Italy

University of Applied Sciences Mainz image/svg+xml

Igor Bajena is an architect specializing in the field of digital 3D reconstruction, documentation and visualization of cultural heritage. From August 2019 he is collaborating with the Architecture Institute of the University of Mainz (AI Mainz), where he was part of the projects ‘Digital reconstruction of the New Synagogue in Wroclaw’, ‘Mainz-Worms-Speyer. Three medieval cities in central Europe as linked data’ and ‘Digital Urban History Lab - Digital research laboratory for historical urban development’. In December 2020 he defended his master thesis entitled 'Fortress in the city. Connections between old town and fortress in Kłodzko city in Poland', winning a distinction in International Professor Jan Zachwatowicz ICOMOS Competition for the best university graduation works in the academic year 2019/20. Since November 2021 he is conducting PhD research on infrastructure for documentation and publication of 3D reconstruction of lost cultural heritage in the Architecture and Design Cultures course at the University of Bologna (XXXVII cycle) in cooperation with AI Mainz. He belongs to the community of the International PhD College of the Institute of Advanced Studies at University of Bologna and the Digital 3D-Reconstruction Working Group in the Digital Humanities in German-speaking Region Association. Currently he is also collaborating with the University of Jena, University of Applied Sciences in Mainz and The Saxon State and University Library Dresden in the project "DFG-Viewer 3D. Infrastructure for digital 3D reconstructions", where he is responsible for low-threshold requirements for the metadata for the web-based visualization, identification and description of the 3D models in the viewer and configuration of input masks for he minimal set of metadata.

Submitted: 2024-10-05

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Accepted: 2024-12-24

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Published: 2025-01-31

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2024.22542

Copyright (c) 2025 Virtual Archaeology Review

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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Keywords:

source-based hypothetical 3D reconstruction, Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM), augmented reality (AR) postcards, cultural heritage, documentation, data preservation

Supporting agencies:

European Commission in Erasmus programme “KA2 – Capacity building in the Field of Higher Education” under Grant 2021-1-IT02- KA220-HED-000031190. The production of 3D model and visualisations of reconstruction was supported by students of Hochschule Mainz: Tara JaliIi and Maximilian Braun.

Abstract:

Highlights:

  • The article describes the concept of a Scientific Reference Model (SRM) and its specific workflow and guidelines exemplified for a hypothetical 3D reconstruction of architectural cultural heritage.
  • The article gives new insights and questions concerning the former synagogue in Ashmyany (Belarus) as a Case Study for testing the SRM concept.
  • The article gives an insight into the market for infrastructures for publication and preservation of 3D models of cultural heritage using the example of the presented case study.

Abstract:

This article examines the application of the Scientific Reference Model (SRM) concept in hypothetical three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of architectural heritage, focusing on the synagogue in Ashmyany, Belarus. The SRM approach, tested in courses at the Hochschule Mainz, allows for transparent documentation of digital reconstructions to support further scholarly research and community engagement. Using historical source material, the 3D model of the synagogue in Ashmyany, serves as a case study for testing this methodology. The reconstruction process highlights the complexity of preserving Jewish architectural heritage in East Central Europe, where shifting political borders and a lack of comprehensive documentation complicate efforts. The synagogue’s architecture, including significant elements such as the Bima and Torah ark, was modelled using Building Information Modelling (BIM)-compliant software. However, certain elements had to be approximated due to limited historical sources, illustrating the challenge of reconstructing lost heritage with accuracy. The integration of historical photographs and surveys into the modelling phase not only enriched the digital reconstruction but also led to further questions about the building’s history and modifications over time. In addition to creating 3D models, the SRM emphasizes the importance of detailed documentation, following the FAIR principles to ensure that reconstructions are traceable and reusable for future research. Platforms like the CoVHer Repository facilitate the publication and accessibility of these models, alongside their metadata and source documentation. The Ashmyany synagogue case study demonstrates how 3D reconstructions can help visualize lost architectural heritage, offering new insights into its historical context and emphasizing the need for continued research on open repositories and digital preservation efforts. This approach showcases the potential of HBIM-modelling to contribute to the study and preservation of Jewish architectural heritage, while underscoring the ongoing need for community engagement and scholarly collaboration.

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