Mapping the Past, Securing the Future: Developing a 3D Scanning and Virtual Reality Based Workflow for the Conservation of At-Risk Heritage Sites in Auckland, New Zealand
In the face of rapid urban development and environmental challenges, historic buildings and sites in Auckland New Zealand, stand as reminders of the city's rich architectural heritage. Many of these buildings and sites are now threatened by a combination of factors, including demolition, climate change induced flooding, and vandalism. This thesis explores the opportunities offered by 3D digital data archiving and virtual reality (VR) applications to support conservation processes for at risk cultural heritage sites, specifically focusing on the Nigel Hanlon Memorial Hut in Piha, West Auckland. The research investigates how a VR-based workflow can enhance existing conservation methodologies by providing an immersive, interactive platform for analysis and design, addressing the research question: How can the integration of a virtual reality-based workflow contribute to the conservation and contemporary intervention for at-risk cultural heritage sites in New Zealand? The study proposes a digital workflow for documenting and designing contemporary interventions for heritages sites, leveraging technologies like Agisoft Metashape for photogrammetry and Shapelab VR for producing and visualising contemporary design responses. While many existing heritage documentation guidelines focus on application to World Heritage Sites, this thesis specifically explores the application of these guidelines to local heritage, demonstrating how international standards can be adapted to smaller scale yet locally significant sites in New Zealand. By doing so, it showcases Auckland’s architectural heritage under threat while emphasising the value of cultural memory as an integral part of conservation. This thesis focuses on creating an immersive architectural experience of memories at the Nigel Hanlon Memorial Hut and its surrounding landscape in Piha, West Auckland. Architectural responses to the site includes immersive visual experiences like canoeing and campfires to evoke a sense of connection with the site's cultural and historical significance. The outcome of this thesis is a set of design guidelines tested through the development of architectural follies that draw on the tangible and intangible heritage of the site’s history, demonstrating the application of virtual reality in conserving these aspects of heritage. By doing so, the project highlights the potential of VR to bridge the gap between the tangible and intangible, past and present. This thesis seeks to empower communities to engage with their heritage through virtual reality, fostering appreciation for Auckland’s cultural legacy and mobilising action to secure the future of these endangered sites.
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