Chester Cathedral

“Once a Desert” at Chester Cathedral fills the majestic interior with a 17.5m-high voile hanging from the vaulted ceiling. Using high-speed film and animated point cloud imagery from 3D laser scans, this awe-inspiring art installation is accompanied by a mesmerizing soundscape.

The Client

The "Once a Desert" art installation at Chester Cathedral was created as part of the Refresh cultural recovery program for Chester. The funding for the program came from Arts Council England and the Government's Additional Restrictions Grant to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The Project

"Once a Desert" exhibition at Chester Cathedral, bringing hidden beauty and rich history to light. Our involvement included meticulous cathedral scanning capturing the cathedral's grandeur and intricate details through precise 3D laser scanning, unveiling hidden connections and overlooked features. Working closely with Heinrich & Palmer, we transformed scanned data into stunning animations and high-speed films, aligning with the artists' vision and conveying the cathedral's historical narrative.

The Solution

OR3D provided cutting-edge 3D laser scanning expertise for the "Once a Desert" exhibition at Chester Cathedral. We utilized state-of-the-art technology to capture precise data of the cathedral's interior, revealing its intricate features and hidden connections. Through our scans, we generated a detailed point cloud, forming the basis for immersive visuals and animations projected onto a suspended voile. Our skilled team processed the scan data to create high-quality visuals that accurately represented the cathedral's architecture and historical significance.

Client Comments

"Once a Desert was part of the Refresh cultural recovery programme for Chester funded by Arts Council England and by the Government’s Additional Restrictions Grant to Cheshire West and Chester Council. With thanks to OR3D for undertaking the 3D Lidar scans and Chester Cathedral for their assistance in the development of this commission. Creative Producers: The Hamilton Project,  AV Technical Support: dBS Solutions" - Anna Heinrich & Leon Palmer

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