We were approached by a marketing agency with the need for renderings for a campaign to sell apartments in a new residential quarter.
Sounds like a typical order for a Exterior 3D visualization studio, until you learn that this residential quarter is part of a reconstruction of a 19th-century historical landmark.
Mount St Mary's was built in 1851 by the famous architect Joseph Aloysius Hansom. This building is one of the brightest examples of Gothic Revival in Great Britain today.
The building means a lot as a keeper of the country's architectural style and traditions. But it made an equally important contribution to people. It was a key part of the local community.
The building means a lot as a keeper of the country's architectural style and traditions. But it made an equally important contribution to people. It was a key part of the local community.
The church delighted people for 140 years, and in June 1989, due to the reduction of the parish population, it had to be closed. Mount St Mary's was transferred to the Diocese of Leeds and changed its natural name to a heritage building by the Victorian Society.
A lot of time has passed, nothing has changed. But maybe everything was not accidental. Because the church has survived our century, when the recovery of buildings has become a general trend that will not bypass it.
A lot of time has passed, nothing has changed. But maybe everything was not accidental. Because the church has survived our century, when the recovery of buildings has become a general trend that will not bypass it.
In 2023, Mount St Mary's managed to be reborn in a reconstruction project.
At that time, the building was in a very dilapidated state. One part of it was more or less preserved, and the other was completely falling apart. Therefore, the part that could be saved was carefully restored, and a new residential complex was added to the second part.
The Church will no longer fulfill its usual function. But thanks to the architectural solution, the main thing remains — the architectural style, the role of the center of attraction and the place where the community unites, only now the residents.
The church itself can certainly attract attention — who wouldn't want to settle next to a historical monument? Especially when it is part of the place where you will live. At first glance, it seems that only words about it would be enough.
But in order to attract the attention of future tenants to a building that does not exist yet, it is necessary to show it. This is where our cooperation began.
The terms of reference were comprehensive and clear, we did not have to invent anything. Visualization of interiors and exteriors of the church itself and the residential complex that became part of it. We were provided with all possible drawings, photos, even a drone shot.
The difficulty was not in the lack of information, but in the information itself. Visualization of heritage reconstruction is definitely not a simple project. Because, unlike modern architecture, which is famous for its minimalism, historical architecture has a huge number of details. And they need to be modeled well and shown as close to reality as possible.
The work stages were no different from other visualization construction projects. We worked according to our standard workflow.
The main difference was in the project itself. But the more diverse the projects, the more interesting you are, right?
In modern architecture agenda, old buildings are getting a lot of attention. People are working hard to fix them up and keep them safe. It's a big job that needs experts like architects, historians, engineers, and conservationists. And that's just at the design stage.
No less important part of the process is to show this project. Whether it is an architectural competition, a presentation to the community, tender or marketing campaign, it is necessary to present this work in every detail.
About article from author:
Heritage recovery is a complex process involving many different specialists. But what role do visualizers play in it? Read in our article.