Project Description:
The virtual museum project dedicated to Roman Shukhevych in Bilohorshcha began long before the physical building was destroyed. Back in 2021, our team, in collaboration with the Lviv Historical Museum and with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, started digitizing museum exhibits and created several high-quality panoramic images of the interior spaces. These materials became critically important after the museum was completely destroyed on January 1, 2024, as a result of a Russian drone attack. The loss of this unique historical site motivated both our team and the museum staff to intensify efforts to preserve the memory of the museum in digital format and make it accessible to a global audience.
Project Objectives:
- Create a highly accurate 3D model of the museum before and after its destruction.
- Provide public access to the historical and cultural heritage through a virtual tour.
- Preserve the memory of the museum and promote Roman Shukhevych as an important historical figure of Ukraine.
- Contribute to the potential restoration of the museum by supplying detailed materials for architects and restoration specialists.
Project Implementation:
The project was carried out in several phases. Initial work began in 2021, when the Skeiron team scanned a number of exhibits and created panoramic images of the museum’s interior. After the devastating attack in January 2024, the ruins were promptly scanned using high-precision photogrammetry to capture the actual condition of the destroyed site. These data, along with additional digitized exhibits and existing museum archives, were used at the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 to develop a fully interactive 3D tour. The virtual tour was supplemented with an audio guide, detailed descriptions of the exhibits, and a unique feature that allows users to compare the museum’s state before and after its destruction.
Project Timeline:
- 2021 – Scanning of exhibits and creation of panoramic images of the museum
- January 2024 – Destruction of the museum due to a Russian attack
- January 2024 – Documentation of the ruins using 3D scanning
- Late 2024 – Early 2025 – Creation of a complete interactive 3D tour using both new and existing materials