3D Gaussian Splatting & Interactive VR Experience of Four Historic Churches in Crete
Portfolio / Cultural Heritage
Gaussian Splatting & VR — Four Historic Monasteries in Crete
Apezanon, Odigitria, Varsamonero & Vrontisi
Drone-based Gaussian Splatting reconstructions integrated into an interactive Unity VR experience of four historic Cretan monasteries.
Project: Interactive VR Experience of Four Historic Churches in Crete, Greece – 3D Gaussian Splatting & VR
Client: Αegean Sοlutions
Our Role: Subcontractor
Work: VR production, Gaussian splatting, Drone shooting, reality capture, 3d modeling.
Services: Immersive VR application development, reality capture and photorealistic 3D reconstruction.
Year: 2026
Fourthedesign developed an interactive Virtual Reality application in Unity using four Gaussian Splatting 3D scenes of historic churches on the island of Crete.
Drone footage captured the churches and their surroundings, forming the visual source material for each reconstruction.
Four Historic Monasteries. One Immersive VR Experience.
The Unity VR experience brings together four historic monastic sites in Crete: Apezanon Monastery, Odigitria Monastery, Varsamonero Monastery and Vrontisi Monastery.
For each location, Fourthedesign captured drone footage and created an individual photorealistic Gaussian Splatting scene.
These four digital reconstructions were integrated into an interactive VR application built with Unity, creating an immersive way to explore the architecture and atmosphere of the Cretan heritage sites.
Drone Reality Capture
Our aerial capture workflow recorded the historic buildings and nearby environments from multiple viewpoints.
Drone footage provided material for reconstructing the churches, their roofs, courtyards and wider settings.
This approach documents real-world visual details and provides the image-based input for photorealistic Gaussian Splatting.
Gaussian Splatting Reconstruction for Unity VR
3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) builds photorealistic 3D scene representations from overlapping image-based capture. Its spatially positioned visual elements reproduce complex architectural surfaces and environmental detail.
Fourthedesign produced four separate Gaussian Splatting reconstructions and brought them into an interactive application developed with Unity, combining real-world imagery and immersive VR interaction.
Apezanon Monastery (Moni Apezanon)
In the western Asterousia Mountains of southern Crete, the historic Monastery of Apezanon is dedicated to Saint Anthony. Its remote mountainous setting reflects the longstanding monastic traditions of the region. Drone-based reality capture helps communicate both the monastery architecture and its landscape.
Odigitria Monastery (Moni Odigitrias)
The Monastery of Odigitria, in the Asterousia area of southern Crete, has roots in the medieval period and a close connection with the region’s Orthodox monastic and hermit traditions. Its historic fortified character and surroundings make it a distinctive heritage environment for immersive reconstruction.
Vrontisi Monastery (Moni Vrontisiou)
Near Zaros, on the southern slopes of Mount Psiloritis, Vrontisi Monastery is associated with the Cretan Renaissance tradition of religious painting. It is also known for its historic marble fountain with carved figures, an important feature of the monastery complex.
Varsamonero Monastery (Moni Varsamonerou)
Near the village of Voriza on the southern slopes of Mount Psiloritis, the former Monastery of Varsamonero is especially known for its historic church and remarkable frescoes dating to the 14th and 15th centuries. The site is an important example of medieval religious art and architecture in Crete.
From Drone Footage to Interactive Unity VR
Our workflow combined drone video capture, 3D Gaussian Splatting reconstruction and Unity VR development. Each captured church became a photorealistic digital scene, and the scenes were then integrated into the interactive VR application.
This project demonstrates a practical route from existing physical heritage sites to realistic, immersive digital experiences.
Why Gaussian Splatting for Cultural Heritage?
Gaussian Splatting for cultural heritage is particularly useful for visualising irregular, weathered surfaces and historic architecture. The technology preserves the visual character of captured buildings, helping viewers appreciate their setting and details.
It supports immersive presentation and virtual exploration, although a photorealistic Gaussian Splatting scene is not automatically a certified 3D survey, editable BIM dataset or engineering-grade model.
Immersive Cultural Heritage in Virtual Reality
By combining Gaussian Splatting and Unity, Fourthedesign created an interactive VR cultural heritage experience based on real historic churches in Crete. The method offers possibilities for museum installations, education, virtual visits and digital heritage interpretation.
See our Virtual Reality development services for more immersive projects.
What Fourthedesign Delivered
Fourthedesign delivered drone footage of four historic churches, four photorealistic Gaussian Splatting 3D reconstructions and their integration into an interactive Unity VR application.
The current portfolio draft includes two authentic images: camera alignment and the reconstruction workflow, plus a view of a church within the 3D scene. Additional church names, videos and screenshots can be added later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Fourthedesign reconstruct the churches? Drone footage was captured at all four sites in Crete, then used to produce individual Gaussian Splatting 3D scenes.
Was Unity used in this project? Yes. The four Gaussian Splatting scenes were integrated into an interactive VR application developed using Unity.
What is 3D Gaussian Splatting? It is an image-based technique for creating photorealistic, viewable 3D scene representations from overlapping visual capture.
Why use Gaussian Splatting in cultural heritage VR? It brings the visual detail and atmosphere of real historic environments into immersive digital presentations.
Does Gaussian Splatting replace architectural surveys? No. Photorealistic scene rendering does not automatically provide certified measurements or editable BIM geometry.
Bring Real Places Into Interactive VR
Based in Crete, Greece, Fourthedesign develops Unity VR applications, Gaussian Splatting reconstructions, interactive 3D and cultural heritage experiences for real-world sites.
Planning a digital heritage or VR project? Contact Fourthedesign to discuss your project.
