New 3D Sydney Opera House unveiled for its 40th Anniversary

Innovative
project by Historic Scotland, Glasgow School of Art’s Digital Design Studio and
CyArk offers a new 21^st Century perspective on world-famous landmark

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007, the Opera House joins
Mount Rushmore in the US, India’s Rani ki Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) and
China’s Eastern Qing Tombs as one of five international heritage sites to be
preserved for posterity, alongside five Scottish World Heritage sites. The
fifth international site has yet to be chosen.

The Scottish Ten 3D model, and accompanying fly-through showreel
provides whole new
perspectives on a building that has not until now been viewable in its entirety
at ground level. The 3D model is showcased in a short film released in Sydney
today, 14 November 2013.

Opened
by Queen Elizabeth II in October 1973, the Sydney Opera House is the ninth of ten buildings to be documented for the
Scottish Ten and the only one from the 20^th century.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs,
Fiona Hyslop, said: “The Sydney Opera House is one
of the world’s most recognisable buildings and an icon of 20^th
century architecture. What better way for Scotland to help mark the 40^th
Anniversary of this iconic structure than by lending our world-class expertise
in the field of digital scanning to help safeguard its future.

“This
innovative collaboration will reinforce the already strong heritage and
cultural links between Scotland and Australia. I offer my congratulations to
the Sydney Opera House on this major milestone and wish it a successful 40^th
Anniversary year and beyond.”

Sydney
Opera House Chief Executive Louise Herron said: “When the Scottish Ten came to us with the idea of creating an exact
3-D rendering of the Opera House, I knew how valuable that information would be
in our conservation efforts. But I was astonished by its potential to help us
in many other ways. We will use it in our education programs and to engage with
new audiences online. People will be able to explore the Opera House no matter
where they are. We already have applications in development for public release
during our 40^th Anniversary year.”

New South Wales Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George
Souris, said: “The Sydney Opera House is our most valuable
cultural and tourism asset. The Scottish Ten’s digital rendering will prove
invaluable in preserving and renewing the Opera House for future generations of
artists, audiences and visitors. It’s the perfect 40^th Anniversary
present.”

Alastair Rawlinson, Head of Data Acquisition at the
Digital Design Studio of The Glasgow School of Art, added: “It has been a great honour to be involved in digitally documenting
this iconic building. Not many people get the opportunity to take in the view
from the top of Sydney Opera House, let alone laser scan from up there.”

“Capturing
the data was one of the most challenging undertakings of all of the Scottish
Ten projects and was followed by an intensive period of processing work at the
DDS. We are delighted that the resulting 3D model and fly through will be
showcased as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations.”

1. Historic Scotland is an executive agency of
   the Scottish Government charged with safeguarding the nation’s historic
   environment. The agency is fully accountable to Scottish Ministers and
   through them to the Scottish Parliament. For more information visit www.historic-scotland.gov.uk 

2. Register for media release email alerts from www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/news. If you wish to unsubscribe at any time,
   please email hs.website@scotland.gsi.gov.uk For Scottish Ten news follow @scottishten and
   for GSA media alerts, follow @gsofa. 
   

3. Historic Scotland around the web:

 

 

0131 668
8714 / 07854 366 827

john.macneil@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Lesley
Booth 0779 941 4474

press@gsa.ac.uk