The Institute for Digital Archaeology (IDA), a joint-venture between Harvard University (US), the University of Oxford (UK) and Dubai’s Museum of the Future (UAE) have announced that they will replicate a structure of architectural significance that was destroyed earlier this year by IS, or 'Islamic State', at full scale in the centre of London and New York City. The arch—all that remains of the Temple of Bel at the Syrian UNESCO World Heritage site—was captured by militants in May and destroyed. By no means an isolated case, IS have looted and demolished a number of similar architectural and anthropologically important sites that "pre-date Islam in Iraq," condemning them as "symbols of idolatry."
According to Alexy Karenowska, the IDA’s Director of Technology, "the renderings would be used to recreate the arch through a combination of 3D printing computer-controlled machining techniques." The pieces will be created off-site before being assembled in both Trafalgar Square and Times Square. In London, the world-renowned fifteen-metre high arch will stand next to the neoclassical monuments of the National Gallery and Nelson's Column highlighting, according to the BBC, "Britain and Syria's shared heritage."
The IDA were described by ArchDaily as being among Architecture's Most Inspiring Leaders, Projects and People in 2015.
News via BBC, The Guardian
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