Exploring The History of Hall's Croft
Susanna Hall was far more than the daughter of William Shakespeare. She was a remarkable woman and her home, Hall's Croft in Stratford-upon-Avon, is the focus of study into her life and the life of women in general at the time, for researchers all around the country and the world.
Dr Ailsa Grant Ferguson, Principal Lecturer in Literature at the University of Brighton, wanted to create a new way of curating and providing access to this important space and its contents, for fellow academics, heritage experts, Shakespeare tourists and the general public alike. She approached 1UP Studios (formerly ARCADE XR) to explore the ways innovative technologies could open up access to this type of material - and the 'spatial archive' was born.
Designed to offer virtual entry to Hall's Croft - especially critical whilst it remains closed to the public for renovation - and present its contents in the context of the home in which they were used, the Hall's Croft Spatial Archive is a new form of online resource, combining emergent technologies and immersive exploration with all the rich complexity of an academic archive.
Capture & Creation
The project required multiple forms of digitisation, including 360 photography and the modelling, texturing and lighting of dozens of archive objects. The team explored the possibility of 3D scanning, but determined that the fragility of some objects, plus the cost and relative inflexibility of a scan meant that the creation of digital twins modelled from archive visits and reference photographs was the preferred route. The final step was compositing the objects into the 360 scenes, along with ambient effects such as 'lighting' the fire and candles, and selecting different paintings that were hung in the house during Susanna's time. The 360 scenes were built in PlayCanvas, the 3D web game engine, and underwent multiple rounds of testing and refinement prior to launch.
Second Screen Augmented Reality
The modelled objects looked fantastic across multiple different media, and it was decided to incorporate a feature allowing researchers and other visitors to explore the archive objects they discover in augmented reality, using a mobile device as a second screen to the primary desktop archive. This innovative approach creates a new and impactful dynamic, enabling curious users to establish an even deeper, close-up connection to the objects from the Croft.
Reaching Remote Audiences
Hall's Croft is owned and managed by Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the educational charity that is the global centre for learning about and experiencing the works, life and times of William Shakespeare and his family. Like most cultural heritage organisations, audience engagement is key and, especially whilst Hall's Croft remains closed for renovation, offering ways to connect with visitors, donors and other Shakespeare audiences all around the world is more critical than ever. Hall's Croft Spatial Archive does exactly that, setting a new standard in global resource accessibility.
Ready For Your Visit?
Hall's Croft Spatial Archive is open 24/7! Visit today on desktop (but keep your mobile handy!): https://www.hallscroft-spatialarchive.co.uk/