| Over the past twenty years there have been enormous developments in the field of computer simulation and virtual reality. Digital technology has the potential to change the way architectural history is presented and perceived. A primary premise of this dissertation is that to properly represent and research architectural historical reconstructions, two aspects of the object of study should be examined: the physical and the cultural identity of the structure or site. The dissertation also argues that the most effective tool for the representation of both these two aspects in a visual, three-dimensional and analytical manner is virtual reality.; The research begins by assessing the advantages and the challenges of using virtual reality methodology for architectural historical reconstructions. The topics explored include concrete techniques of incorporating and representing the cultural identity of a site into the digital architectural model. The concepts are evaluated through the example of a case study: the reconstruction of a Jewish site in Thessaloniki, Greece in the first half of the 20 th century.; Based on this research, at issue are the impact such a methodology has on collective memory the responsibilities of scholars and institutions that create such reconstructions. Further, potential use of these reconstructions is presented, such as museum installations, class room use, utilization at archeological sites and availability on the internet. |
