The Academy of Athens was founded in 1926 and intended to hearken back to the ancient academy founded by Plato. Walkthrough of the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New Yorkįounded in 1896, in 1970 the Cooper Hewitt museum moved to its current building, the former home of industrial revolution giant and one of the most notable architectural philanthropists in history, Andrew Carnegie. Designed in 1899 by Babb, Cook & Willard, the Georgian building was the first private home in the United States to feature a structural steel frame (a touch befitting the millionaire steel magnate). The model includes a sizeable portion of the surrounding urban fabric, allowing viewers to really experience the atmosphere of the abbey. The dramatic central cloister, however, was built in a more striking gothic style in the 15th century. The gardens themselves were designed by the Count of Choulot and are considered by the Committee of Parks and Gardens of the Ministry of Culture of France as being among France's most notable gardens.Īnother treasure from a small commune near Dordogne, the Cadouin Abbey was originally built in 1154 in a Romanesque style. Reconstructed in the 17th Century, the Château de Hautefort sits in a commanding position over its hillside gardens in the small commune of Hautefort near Dordogne. While the current incarnation of the castle is based on the original, complete accuracy was eschewed in favor of a more pleasing appearance.Ĭhâteau de Hautefort near Dordogne, France After being burnt to the ground in 1866 as a result of a war between rival clans, the castle's keep was reconstructed in 1959, while the castle itself was rebuilt in 1990. Originally built in 1602, Kokura Castle has a complex history. This model takes the viewer on a tour through a late Ottoman-period home from Damascus, explaining the notable features of the traditional design. In this first installment, we're taking a look at some of the best scans of historical buildings - and don't forget, all of these models can be viewed in virtual reality for the maximum architectural experience! In this new series, ArchDaily is joining forces with with Sketchfab, to present the best architectural models featured on their platform, as selected by staff members at Sketchfab. At the forefront of this 3D-sharing revolution is Sketchfab, a platform which allows users to upload their model and view it directly in their browser.

At ArchDaily, we've said before how sharing 3D models online has the potential to change architecture for the better, allowing viewers to explore a design for themselves rather than being presented only the most flattering views via photographs.

Walkthrough sketchfab models