Nottingham Cathedral Receives Grant to ‘Restore Pugin’
Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin is not a new name in construction. His contribution to the history of the architecture dates back to the 1840s. You can appreciate the intricate details of his designs in various famous buildings across Europe. His ability to re-enact designs inspired by the Middle Ages cannot be overlooked.
He is behind one of the most famous landmarks in Europe, London’s clock tower. This houses “Big Ben” and the Houses of Parliament. Another famous landmark is the St. Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham, U.K. The Catholic church’s unique, diverse, dazzling designs add to his legacy.
He built this church in the 1840s to pioneer the revival of medieval architecture. This kind of design was less widespread amongst architects but was quite popular. He aimed to champion the Gothic Revival as a grand tradition of architecture during the 1800s. A national treasure that can be easily lost if not for 3D laser scanning services.
Restoration Made Possible With 3D Laser Scanning Services
Despite Augustus building one of the best monuments in the UK, the buildings have suffered significant wear and tear. However, through 3D scanning services, it is possible for construction managers today to restore the beauty of these buildings.
This has brought forth the Restoring Pugin project. This project is essential in restoring and reviving the heritage of Nottingham city canter on Derby Road.
Behind the project are the British lottery players. This will significantly help in utilizing 3D laser scanning services to restore the buildings. The National Lottery Heritage Fund also finances the project to achieve this goal.
According to the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, the development grant offered for the project is about £277,558. This will pay partially for 60% of the project development overheads.
There is also an additional £524,858 as a potential delivery grant for the implementation chapter. This will entirely cover the cost of restoring the Grade II listed building.
Sophie Andreae, vice chair of the Bishops’ Conference’s Patrimony Committee, says it’s a really exciting 3D scanning project. The original Pugin decorative scheme in Nottingham Cathedral would be a positive addition to the sacredness of the church.
She also pointed out that several grants have been received in recent years. However, they were all directed toward the exterior of the Cathedral. It’s high time the donations can be directed to the church’s interior to restore its glory.
Benachir Medjdoub, a digital architecture professor at Nottingham Trent University, says the project will rely on high-end digital technologies, i.e., 3D laser scanning services. This will enable young people to learn different ways of conservation and restoration.
Through the lottery grant, 3D scanning services will be easily attainable to get the actual scans of the church. As a result, developers will be able to have images of the original church and the new one to compare.
Canon Malachy Brett, dean of Nottingham Cathedral, is grateful towards the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which has contributed over £43 billion for projects since 1994.
