AUDIO-VISUAL CONSERVATION AND RESTITUTION OF THE ANCIENT THEATERS AND ODEA IN VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT: ERATO RESEARCH PROJECT

Abstract

In the conservation and restoration of historical monuments, concepts related with visual sense were used to be taken into consideration. However, acoustical environment formed either spontaneously or consciously is one of the basic elements of human beings' perception of the architectural spaces having acoustical importance. Hence, architectural heritage concept has been broadened in recent years covering acoustics as well. The concept that acoustics of old buildings is part of cultural heritage is accepted more commonly by means of the interdisciplinary works done in the last decade. CAHRISMA -Conservation of the Acoustical Heritage by the Revival and Identification of the Sinan's Mosques' Acoustics-Research Project (2000-2003), carried out within the EC Fifth Framework INCO-MED Program pioneered implementing such a concept. ERATO -Identification, Evaluation and Revival of the Acoustical Heritage of Ancient Theatres and Odea-Research Project (2003-2006) hold at the same Framework Program, succeeds CAHRISMA Project with similar goals. In both projects acoustical environment of the spaces is documented by means of objective and subjective evaluations and an innovative way in conservation which is virtual conservation by the audio-visual reconstructions of spaces having acoustical importance in 3D virtual environments is provided. This article presents the conceptual and practical innovations created in the field of architectural conservation based on the ERATO Research Project.