Medieval Diorama

Why create a virtual world when the State Garden Show is all about exploring real gardens? It’s simple: through our project, we’re bringing to life a part of the site that would otherwise remain hidden without digital assistance: the remains of a medieval settlement were discovered on the site, and we’re making them accessible to explore digitally.

We’re now going to show you how we create a detailed, interactive 3D world from just a handful of archaeological data points.

First things first – the key facts about the project

Our client is the Thuringian Leinefelde-Worbis State Garden Show 2026. The project therefore arose from a call for tenders and is intended to provide a digital complement to an accompanying exhibition. This will take the form of a desktop application and a mobile app.

Special Needs – The limited data available

The scarcity of data is definitely our biggest challenge in this project, as apart from a few archaeological finds, there is hardly any usable material. The settlement in question was abandoned as early as the Middle Ages, which is why there are very few historical records.

In the run-up to the State Garden Show, the site was indeed subjected to a further archaeological survey; however, unfortunately, even these findings do not provide an ideal basis for creating an authentic reconstruction of the village of „Kirrode“ that is historically accurate down to the last detail.

Go-to – good planning and a sound concept

Our solution to this data gap is a modular approach that makes it transparent and clear to both our clients and all project partners involved exactly what they can expect. At the same time, it provides us with a solid foundation for developing a scalable 3D environment and streamlines coordination with archaeological experts – which is a significant time-saving factor.
Our concept covers all the fundamental aspects, such as the landscape – including topography and the layout of paths – as well as historically accurate architecture and the depiction of typical trades and everyday objects of the period.

Workflow

At first glance, all this sounds like an enormous workload – but with a clever selection of tech tricks and well-oiled pipelines, it’s no problem at all. The magic words are ‘procedural generation’ rather than ‘custom-made’ – in other words, the automated creation of large, richly detailed 3D worlds. But don’t worry, despite this, our client certainly won’t be getting a run-of-the-mill, off-the-shelf application.

Our framework works like a modular system that enables the rapid, automated generation of realistic landscapes with a high level of detail and high-performance rendering. To achieve this, we utilise tools such as Gaea, PCG and Gaussian Splatting, amongst others. This foundation is complemented by a custom-designed asset pack that can be flexibly integrated into any scene.
On top of that, of course, is our attention to detail, which, through meticulous craftsmanship at the end of each scene, gives it its unique character.

And action!

Of course, it’s not enough for our medieval world to simply look stunning – we also need to bring it to life for visitors to the State Garden Show. That’s why there’ll be several ways to explore our interactive 3D experience.

Firstly, there is a first-person tour. Much like Google Street View, you can take a leisurely stroll through the village and pick up bits of information as you go.

Secondly, there is a second mode in which visitors can explore specific areas from a bird’s-eye view in search of interesting spots. Thanks to carefully selected viewpoints, they won’t miss out on any stunning shots or details, even in this mode.

To ensure the app remains relevant in the long term and to provide additional content for a younger audience, we’re taking gamification a step further. We’re planning a third mode that features playful quests leading to selected locations and, woven into a short story, conveys knowledge about life in the Middle Ages.

There is also a mobile app. This allows visitors to take a virtual stroll through the medieval settlement via a simplified, browser-based 360° version of our 3D world.

360° tour

Medieval Miniature – The Middle Ages in miniature

A visually appealing environment naturally invites visitors to linger and explore. We enhance this sense of allure through a charming miniature aesthetic, created by the generous use of depth of field. Much like a model railway layout, we thus create an interesting diorama that constantly draws the eye to new details, encouraging visitors to linger for longer.

Give it a go

Why not pop round and let us whisk you away to the Middle Ages! The Leinefelde-Worbis State Horticultural Show It will remain open until 11 October 2026. But our portal will remain open for you even after that. This is because, once the exhibition has ended, our 3D world – complete with touchscreen – will be moving to a new location within the city. As the area with the QR codes is to become a public park, this part of the digital journey through time will also remain accessible in future. This creates a sustainable offering with added value for tourism that will endure long after the actual event has ended.