Volterra -Detroit Foundation at the Autodesk University 2024 in San Diego

The work of the Digital Preservation Workshop and the subsequent research of Roman design methods were recognized by Autodesk, which invited us to present it at Autodesk University in San Diego (October 15-17). The AU is an annual event that attracts engineering and architectural design professionals from around the world. It is estimated that there were 15,000 attendees in San Diego. The exhibition was possible thanks to the support of Autodesk, which is the most important partner and supporter of the Volterra-Detroit Foundation in our work to preserve the historical heritage of Volterra.

Our exhibition included three-dimensional models of the historical buildings in Volterra and other cities, which were 3d scanned since the first workshop in 2016. They were printed using the latest polymer 3D printing technology by EOS Gmbh. Here are a few of them:

Besides the 3D models, the exhibition included a video presenting the history of the Digital Preservation Workshops and the technical details of the workflow involved in documenting the historical buildings using 3D scans and digital 3d modeling. There were also panels presenting Wladek Fuchs’s research on Roman design methods in architecture. He also gave a Theater Talk on his work.

The exhibition was visited by the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles, Emanuele Amendola (in the center of the image below), who also spoke about the importance of our work in Volterra, and international collaboration for the preservation of the cultural heritage, before Wladek’s Theater talk.

The event in San Diego also resulted in some unexpected encounters. Several alumni of the School of Architecture and Community Development came to see us in our exhibit area. They were delighted to see us there, representing also their Alma Mater, through the work of the Volterra-Detroit Foundation and the Digital Preservation Workshops.