Project: Enhancement of Heritage Experiences: the Middle Ages. Digital Layered Models of Architecture and Mural Paintings over Time

Acronym	EHEM (Reference Number: JPICH-0127)
Duration	02/03/2020 - 01/03/2023
Project Topic	The project aims to obtain virtual reconstructions of medieval artistic heritage -architecture with mural paintings- that are as close as possible to the original at differenttimes, incorporating historical-artistic knowledge and the diachronic perspective ofheritage, as an instrument for researchers, restorers and heritage curators and to improvethe visitor's perceptions and experiences.In the digital models elaborated we intend to develop, as concrete objectives:1. The understanding of architectural complexity, which is usually regularizedgeometrically. The collaboration of architects reveals the enormous interest ofmultidisciplinary dialogue in order to reach a real understanding of the construction of thebuilding and its structural “anomalies".2. Solving chromatic problems. The different restoration criteria followed over the yearshave resulted in notable differences in the current chromatic perception, sometimes ofdifferent fragments of the same ensemble. The analysis of pigments, the arrangement ofthe pictorial layers and the successive restorations suffered, with the help of conservationand restoration technicians, will allow us to digitally specify the original colouring of thepaintings.3. Raise and propose the resolution of lighting problems. To date, trials have been carriedout for the restitution of these problems in digital models based on the analysis of naturallighting, which we intend to improve. We also propose to deal with artificial lighting bychandeliers or oil lamps, which produced effects of painting vibration at the momentwhen, for liturgical reasons, the images “acted".4. To approach digitally the different perspectives of the medieval building and itspaintings according to the categories of users. The laity did not have the same visualaccess as the clergy to the most decorated parts of the church; the iconographic programsdid not have a universal addressee.
Project Results (after finalisation)	http://ehemproject.eu/
Network	JPI Cultural Heritage
Call	Joint research on conservation, protection and use of cultural heritage

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	Universitat de Barcelona	Coordinator	Spain
2	Research Center for Interactive Media, Smart Systems and Emerging Technologies	Partner	Cyprus
3	University of Roma Tre	Partner	Italy
4	University of Tuscia - Viterbo	Partner	Italy