UC team virtually rebuilds lost architecture of the Shakers

An ongoing University of Cincinnati public education project is virtually rebuilding the lost structures of the Shakers, with a focus on the White Water Shaker Village near Harrison.

Jose Kozan, adjunct professor of architecture and research associate in UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, is working in conjunction with members of the Center for the Electronic Reconstruction of Historical and Archaeological Sites to recreate the buildings and interiors that have been lost since the site was vacated in 1916.

Using Google's 3D Warehouse and Google Earth, the team has created 3D virtual models of nearly a dozen buildings, taking great care to present the interiors as they would have looked when the village was established in 1824.

According to UC News, Kozan's goal is to expand these virtual reconstructions to include other Shaker communities throughout the United States, to spread the architectural lessons to be learned, and to encourage tourism via preservation.

Read the full article here.