Preserving the windmill of Elene with 3D
In an effort to digitally preserve the windmill, in 2020 Visual Dimension BV (Belgium) made an animated 3D model based on the 1985 restoration plans by the architect Pascal Mariman. This work was part of a larger virtual reconstruction of the nearby stately home and its estate.
As the damage to the windmill is substantial and as precise dimensions for all its parts were available, the virtual restoration was made by 3D modelling using an open-source 3D computer graphics software called Blender. The work by 3D specialist Ander Ayala included animation of all moving parts, while photographs of the windmill in its current state were used for the material of the walls.
The 3D model was not only used in the interactive virtual reconstruction of the stately home but was also exported to Sketchfab (a 3D modelling platform) for use and access via Europeana.eu. To better illustrate how the mechanics of the mill work, a second version was made showing only the animated woodwork. The rotating top of the windmill has a unique design as it rotates on iron ball bearings. However, nearly all of the mechanics inside are currently in a dilapidated state.
The journey to Twin it! and the G20 Summit
In June 2023, the windmill of Elene became the core visual element of the Twin it! 3D for Europe's culture campaign launched by the Europeana Initiative and the European Commission to collect and showcase emblematic and high-quality samples of Europe’s cultural assets in 3D.
Windmills are iconic symbols of European landscapes and bear a profound historical, cultural and economic significance. They played a crucial role in the livelihood and development of Europe’s rural areas by harnessing the power of wind to perform essential tasks such as grinding grain and pumping water.
Throughout history, windmills have inspired art, literature and popular culture - from Van Gogh’s picturesque windmill representations to Don Quixote’s epic encounter with windmills in Miguel de Cervantes' classic novel. Today, windmills symbolise sustainability and the shift towards renewable energy sources.
Based on the Twin it! Campaign concept and imagery, the Europeana Initiative was proud to support the European Union in preparing its contribution to the cultural programme of the G20 Summit. The 3D virtual reconstruction of the windmill of Elene produced by Visual Dimension BV now features proudly as the European Union’s own digital heritage object in the ‘G20 Culture Corridor - Digital Museum’ , together with digital copies of famous paintings such as Girl with a Pearl Earring and the Mona Lisa provided by individual G20 members.
The Culture Corridor was inaugurated on 8 September by G20 Heads of State, including the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and is now open to the public free of charge for wider access and enjoyment.
As the Twin it! campaign and the G20 Summit increase the visibility of and public attention towards the windmill of Elene, thanks to the work performed by Visual Dimension experts to digitally preserve it through advanced 3D technology, we hope for a fortunate twist of fate leading to its proper preservation for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.
Find out more
Stay tuned for more content on 3D in the dedicated Europeana Pro News series, and find out more about how Twin It! 3D for Europe’s culture is working to increase high-quality, usable and accessible 3D content in the common European data space for cultural heritage.