Victorian Shop Front Documentation

A Grade II listed Victorian shop front from the 1880s required detailed documentation for conservation planning. The building features original decorative tilework, cast iron columns, and distinctive glazing patterns - all showing signs of weathering and damage that needed precise recording.

High-resolution photogrammetry was employed to create a millimeter-accurate 3D model of the entire facade, capturing both the overall structure and fine details of the decorative elements. This documentation enables conservation teams to plan restoration work with exact specifications.

The shop front sits on a busy street with constant pedestrian traffic, making controlled photography difficult. Varying lighting conditions throughout the day created challenges for consistent color and detail capture.

The weathered decorative tilework required particularly precise documentation, as the conservation team needed to identify exactly which tiles required replacement and match historic materials accurately. Standard architectural photography wouldn't provide the measurement accuracy needed for restoration specifications.

I captured 380 high-resolution photographs from multiple angles and heights, ensuring complete coverage of the facade including difficult-to-access upper areas. The photogrammetry software processed these images to create a detailed 3D model with millimeter-level accuracy.

The deliverables included orthographic projections for technical documentation, textured 3D models showing current condition, and a detailed condition assessment report identifying areas requiring conservation attention. Measurements could be extracted directly from the model, eliminating the need for physical measurement of hard-to-reach areas.

• Millimeter-accurate 3D model of complete facade
• High-resolution texture mapping of decorative elements
• Orthographic projections for technical documentation
• Detailed condition assessment of tilework
• Scalable measurements for restoration specifications
• Archive-quality documentation for heritage records
• 380 source photographs for comprehensive coverage

The photogrammetric documentation enabled the conservation team to plan restoration work with confidence. They could identify specific tiles needing replacement, specify exact dimensions for reproduction of damaged cast iron elements, and create a baseline record of the building's condition.

The digital archive provides a permanent record of the shop front's current state, supporting future conservation work and research into Victorian commercial architecture. The project demonstrates how photogrammetry serves heritage preservation by capturing both aesthetic and technical detail in a single workflow.