| The more things change, the more it seems we're | | | | whether it's the existing original, a photograph or |
| drawn to places that connect us to the past. | | | | even a memory. Where an original piece exists, the |
| Whether it's as lofty as a church cathedral or as | | | | object is laser scanned to create a digital file that's |
| everyday as an office building, the architecture of | | | | accurate to within thousandths of an inch. If the |
| days gone by has the power to remind us of where | | | | original is long gone, a digital file can be created using |
| we came from. | | | | 3D modeling software to bring the past to life. In |
| Maintaining links with the past through architecture | | | | both cases, the resulting file can be edited and |
| has always been a labor of love. Restoring a building | | | | adapted within the software to ensure accuracy and |
| that has seen better days or recreating the feel of | | | | detail. In cases where restoration work is required, |
| an historical building has traditionally involved tedious, | | | | the software can be used to correct the effects of |
| manual processes hampered by high costs, extensive | | | | time. As Lehman explains, "this is really where history |
| labor and the potential for inaccuracies. But the times | | | | and technology come together. This system lets you |
| are changing. The development of advanced foam | | | | bring architecture back to its original form." |
| cutting and 3d foam carving technologies has | | | | Once the data file has been prepared, it's sent to a |
| introduced a world of new possibilities for restoring | | | | 3D foam router, which can recreate the piece in |
| and revisiting traditional architecture. | | | | exacting detail using high density foam. Depending on |
| Gaining acceptance as a lightweight, easy-to-install, | | | | the nature of the piece and how it will be used, there |
| cost effective replacement for traditional building | | | | are a number of options at this point. For less |
| materials, foam is now used to create a range of | | | | intricate pieces, a positive version can be milled out |
| architectural features, from columns and balusters to | | | | of foam and then coated to produce a sturdy final |
| moldings and other decorative features. These pieces | | | | product. In cases where the final product will be |
| can be made with foam and then coated with | | | | created using cast stone, concrete, plaster or a |
| materials that stand up to the elements, or foam can | | | | range of other materials, new mold making processes |
| be used to create molds for concrete, cast stone, | | | | allow a detailed mold to be created from either a |
| plaster and a range of other materials. Despite this, | | | | negative or positive version of the piece. These |
| there has been some hesitation to adopt this material | | | | molds are then used to create the final product. |
| for traditional building and architectural restoration. | | | | Lehman explains that the benefits of combining foam |
| While concerns about introducing new technology into | | | | cutting and carving technology with innovative mold |
| a field full of tradition may be partly to blame, the | | | | making processes "go beyond the most obvious time |
| technologies available in the past simply haven't been | | | | and labor savings. It can recreate and restore with |
| up to the task. | | | | great accuracy, but it also brings new flexibility and |
| The introduction and integration of a number of | | | | efficiency. Architectural designs can be stored digitally |
| technologies, including 3D laser scanning, 3D foam | | | | and then altered, scaled or added to as required. So |
| milling and innovative mold making processes is solving | | | | it's not only about perfect restorations, but it's also |
| these problems and making foam carving a perfect | | | | about allowing new uses of traditional architecture in |
| option for architectural reproduction and restoration. | | | | modern building." |
| Dwayne Lehman, president of Streamline | | | | The end result is accurate and authentic |
| Automation, a company that has pioneered the use | | | | reproductions and restorations that are almost |
| of these technologies, explains that they "essentially | | | | impossible to distinguish from original versions. The |
| eliminate the problems that come with traditional | | | | process brings improvements to traditional processes |
| methods, whether it's the amount of labor involved | | | | but still creates end products that capture the spirit |
| or the inaccuracies. They provide an automated | | | | and craftsmanship of the originals. So while this is a |
| solution that's more efficient and accurate than | | | | technology that's moving traditional building forward, |
| anything available before." | | | | it's also letting us maintain our connection to the past. |
| The process starts with the original architecture, | | | | |