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The Atlas of Lost Rooms:

Digitally Reconstructing Dark Heritage Sites in Ireland

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  • First Online:
Emerging Technologies and the Digital Transformation of Museums and Heritage Sites (RISE IMET 2021)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1432))

Abstract

This paper explores the use of 3D digital reconstructions of dark heritage sites (defined as sites associated with death, injury, injustice, abuse and torture) for architectural investigations and public dissemination of difficult and emotionally challenging historic events.

The particular case study examined is the ongoing Atlas of Lost Rooms project (http://atlasoflostrooms.com/), a digital reconstruction of the Sean MacDermott St Magdalene Laundry in Dublin, one of Ireland’s most poignant sites of institutional abuse. The project seeks to create a repository of oral histories from the now demolished laundry complex, using digital architectural modelling to situate survivor testimony within an online model of the former site.

The paper explores the theoretical justification for the use of digital technologies in examining dark heritage sites, and sets out a workflow for how 3D reconstructions can be created from limited and fragmentary sources. The paper concludes by suggesting future areas for further study to determine the usefulness of digital tools in the field of dark and contested heritage.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Donnybrook, Dublin (derelict); Sean MacDermott St, Dublin (derelict; partly demolished); High Park; Dublin (partly demolished; redeveloped); Dun Laoghaire (partly demolished; redeveloped); Galway (demolished); New Ross, (demolished); Limerick (redeveloped); Peacock Lane, Cork (redeveloped); Sundays Well, Cork (derelict; largely destroyed by fire); Waterford (redeveloped).

  2. 2.

    The user can for example adjust depth of field, focal length, sensor size, camera position and rotation, using similar settings to real world photography.

  3. 3.

    Within a margin of error – it should be stressed that this method is not as accurate as traditional survey techniques.

  4. 4.

    Fr Delaney Collection, Irish Film Institute. Gloucester St. https://ifiplayer.ie/father-delaney-collection-gloucester-street/ Relevant section begins at 6 min 15.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Queen’s University, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK

    Chris Hamill

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  1. Chris Hamill
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Correspondence to Chris Hamill .

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  1. CYENS Centre of Excellence, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Maria Shehade

  2. Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus

    Theopisti Stylianou-Lambert

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Hamill, C. (2021). The Atlas of Lost Rooms:. In: Shehade, M., Stylianou-Lambert, T. (eds) Emerging Technologies and the Digital Transformation of Museums and Heritage Sites. RISE IMET 2021. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1432. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83647-4_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83647-4_14

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-83647-4

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