Zprávy památkové péče 2019, 79(2):134-145 | DOI: 10.56112/zpp.2019.2.04

Virtual 3D model of the Jesuit College in Telč

Ondřej Hnilica, Ivan Klíma

NPÚ ÚOP v Telči

The study deals with one branch of activity that is carried out as part of the current scientific research project NAKI II Telč and the Jesuits, the Order and its Patrons. The National Heritage Institute office in Telč deals with the legacy of the material cultural heritage that was established, modified, or used by the community of members of the Society of Jesus established here during the years 1654-1773. For study and presentation purposes, 3D virtual models of selected buildings have been created. The article focuses on the key building of the Society of Jesus in Telč: the dormitory, which also included the house of the third probation (instead of the peak order formation) for the Czech Jesuit province. The original Renaissance building, consisting of two basic building phases, represented typical period Jesuit architecture for a specific purpose, set in an unusual environment of a small serf town, chosen for the Order's need for the establishment of a probation house. After the abolition of the Jesuit Order, the building was necessarily taken over by a military administration and subsequently adapted as a school facility. Further building modifications for the needs of the school took place in 1906-1907, radically changing the nature of the building to regional Secessionist style. The building is still used for school purposes today, serving as the University Center for Masaryk University. The significant architectural transformation of the building presented a challenge in the attempt to reconstruct the hypothetical appearance of the former Jesuit College in Telč on a virtual 3D model. Our objective was to make the hypothetical reconstruction as accurate as possible, so we tried to make the most of the available state of knowledge of the building. The appearance was based on knowledge gained from historical sources such as vedutas, historical photographs and planning documentation, the historical physical model of the city from 1895, and finally an architectural/historical survey of the building. Missing information was supplemented by analogies and principles of the Renaissance as well as specific elements of Jesuit architecture. The resulting form emerged from a synthesis thereof as well as necessary fill-ins by the authors, corrected by expert judgment and subsequently converted into a virtual 3D model. In general, the study presents a simplified summary of the methodological assumptions that must be taken into account when making decisions for 3D modeling, such as the horizons of user expectations, software requirements, and their necessary compatibility. The methodological part also describes the process of creating a model, focusing on specific aspects of working with geometry, textures, rendering, scene creation, and control elements, up to its final placement on the server. The result of the entire effort is presented as a 2D graphical output - a picture with a link to the project website, where the model can be studied in more detail. The discussion part reacts to the state of the result we achieved given its probability and with regard to specific Jesuit realizations within the historical space of the Czech Jesuit province. The study concludes with a summarization of the above findings.

Keywords: Jesuit college, 3D model, probable historical form

Published: June 1, 2019  Show citation