In the “3D Recreation of Historical Cities” course offered by Koré Formación (July-September 2023), we developed a virtual reconstruction of the city of Sanluri around the year 1400. The goal of this project was to represent the city in the historical context of the judicial period of the Arborea, a crucial time in Sardinian history, just before the 1409 battle in which Catalan-Aragonese forces captured the city and its castle, marking the beginning of the end of Sardinian independence.
This is an extended reality (XR) project, which includes technologies such as virtual, augmented, and mixed reality. Extended reality allows for the creation of immersive and detailed experiences in historical environments, offering an innovative way to explore and relive the past interactively.
Below, I describe each key phase of this fascinating historical 3D recreation project.
Phase 1: Documentation collection and analysis
To accurately recreate Sanluri as it was in 1400, we began the project with an in-depth documentary research. We consulted books, online articles, and visited the city to take current photographs. This work allowed us to identify the distribution of walls, towers, gates, and major monuments such as the castle and churches. By comparing sources and using historical parallels, we visualized architectural elements like the main church, which differs significantly today from its original 15th-century version.
Phase 2: Obtaining the terrain model
The terrain model was created using Blender GIS. This data was essential for achieving an accurate representation of the city’s topography and surroundings, making the resulting scene as close as possible to the actual geographical layout of Sanluri in 1400.
Phase 3: Initial sketches
With all documentation gathered, we created a preliminary 3D reconstruction of the city, including walls, main monuments, and houses. From these initial models, we made detailed sketches in Affinity Photo to add color and define the visual style of the medieval city.
Phase 4: Development of low poly 3D assets
In this stage, we designed and textured various low-poly assets, including the buildings that make up the houses, the castle, and the churches. This allowed us to create 3D elements that would later be integrated into the terrain, adhering to the visual style established in the sketches and respecting the low poly simplicity for optimal model efficiency.
Phase 5: Texturing the terrain and building placement
Once the assets were created, we textured the terrain and integrated the buildings, roads, and other elements following the layout generated in the study phase. This step was fundamental to ensure a realistic arrangement and historical coherence in the representation.
Phase 6: Adding vegetation and crops
To complete the environment, we added vegetation, such as bushes, trees, and crops around the city. The vegetation not only adds realism to the environment but also reflects the agricultural practices and typical landscape of the time.
Phase 7: Final renders
Finally, we generated the final renders of the reconstruction. These were later edited in Affinity Photo to enhance color tones, correct details, and add finishing elements, bringing this historical representation of Sanluri to life. These renders provide an immersive vision of what the city of Sanluri was like around 1400, allowing us to visually relive a significant moment in its history.
This project has been an enriching experience, enabling a realistic and detailed approach to medieval history through 3D design.
If you’d like to create a virtual reconstruction of a historical setting, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be delighted to carry out your project with the same passion and historical rigor as in this recreation of Sanluri.
