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Atkinson Architects: enhancing heritage renovation with LiDAR and model-making
Atkinson Architects: enhancing heritage renovation with LiDAR and model-making
Atkinson Architects: enhancing heritage renovation with LiDAR and model-making
Projects

Atkinson Architects: enhancing heritage renovation with LiDAR and model-making

Fab Lab South West supported Atkinson Architects with LiDAR scanning and architectural model-making for a Grade I-listed renovation on the Dartington Estate, delivering digital precision and tangible prototypes to inform conservation planning.

Atkinson Architects, specialists in heritage and listed buildings across Devon and Cornwall, partnered with Fab Lab South West to integrate advanced LiDAR scanning and architectural modelling into their design process for a Grade I-listed Modernist house on the Dartington Estate, Devon. The collaboration delivered accurate survey data and a scale model that supported visualisation, planning and stakeholder engagement for the renovation of this landmark site.

The challenge

Heritage and listed buildings present unique challenges for architects. Renovation requires absolute accuracy in surveying, alongside methods of communicating complex spatial information to planners, conservation bodies and clients. Atkinson Architects approached Fab Lab South West to explore how digital fabrication and scanning could enhance their practice.

Our approach

  • LiDAR scanning: The Lab conducted pulsed laser scanning of the Grade I-listed Modernist house on the Dartington Estate, capturing high-resolution point cloud data to support renovation planning.

  • Digital modelling: Scan data was processed into accurate 3D models, enabling precise projection, clash detection and design iteration.

  • Physical prototype: Fab Lab South West fabricated a detailed architectural model at scale, giving the practice and stakeholders a tactile way to explore proposals and communicate ideas.

Results & impact

  • Precision data: LiDAR scans reduced uncertainty and risk in planning renovation work on a sensitive heritage site.

  • Enhanced communication: The architectural model improved project visualisation, supporting client engagement and planning processes.

  • Sector relevance: The project demonstrates how digital tools and fabrication can be applied to heritage architecture, strengthening conservation practice with advanced survey and prototyping techniques.

Technologies used

LiDAR scanning • 3D modelling • Digital fabrication • Architectural model-making

Partners & credits

  • Atkinson Architects (Devon & Cornwall) — heritage architecture specialists

  • Fab Lab South West, Arts University Plymouth — LiDAR scanning and architectural model production

Project site: Dartington Estate, Grade I-listed Modernist building

Atkinson Architects: enhancing heritage renovation with LiDAR and model-making Atkinson Architects: enhancing heritage renovation with LiDAR and model-making

Atkin­son Archi­tects: enhanc­ing her­itage ren­o­va­tion with LiDAR and model-making

Fab Lab South West sup­port­ed Atkin­son Archi­tects with LiDAR scan­ning and archi­tec­tur­al mod­el-mak­ing for a Grade I‑listed ren­o­va­tion on the Dart­ing­ton Estate, deliv­er­ing dig­i­tal pre­ci­sion and tan­gi­ble pro­to­types to inform con­ser­va­tion planning.
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