Explore long-lost interiors and rediscover Welsh history

Using archival photographs and meticulous research led by Beau Jones, our team of 3D artists reconstructed the interiors of Margam Castle as they would have appeared in their late 19th century glory. This included the drawing room and the dining room, both of which were tragically lost when the castle caught ablaze on August 4th 1977.

The app not only showcases the architectural details of each room, but vividly restores the furnishings, intricate decor, and numerous artworks that once adorned the castle. Visitors can now step into each bare room, whilst virtually viewing its former luxury in AR, witnessing Margam Castle at the height of its opulence.

Incorporating the artworks posed significant challenges due to licensing constraints, which required each painting to be carefully researched and referenced within the digital Margam. In order to secure the licenses for each digital painting, their real-life counterparts had to be located. This process required a responsive collaboration with various museums and archives to ensure accuracy in both content and context.

In order to bring the rooms to life and enhance the realism of the AR application, the 3D team opted to bake the lighting into each scene. This approach allowed them to precompute realistic shadows and light interactions, adding depth and authenticity to the environments. By utilising baked lighting, they were able to achieve a high level of visual quality without compromising the application’s real-time performance, ensuring a seamless and immersive user experience.

Several of the architectural features, furnishings and paintings within the app are interactive, allowing users to access informative pop-ups that shed light on the rich history of Margam’s lost collections. Each room is highly detailed, packed full of historical insights and easter eggs. For instance, visitors might notice a snoozing cat in the Library AR. This feline friend represents the historical likelihood of such pets at Margam, as cats were formally recognised as domestic animals by an Act of Parliament in 1822. More intriguing Welsh history awaits visitors as they explore further!

Throughout the project, the team conducted research visits to Margam Castle, in order to gather reference materials and measurements. We captured countless photos of the castle’s interiors, ensuring that our 3D artists had accurate visual references to recreate Margam’s former splendour. Precise measurements of the site were taken to align the AR tracking images perfectly with the physical architecture, allowing the app to function seamlessly on location.

One particularly memorable visit occurred during December, following a frosty cold snap. Our team was greeted by Margam’s festive decorations and worked around a local Christmas tree festival whilst surveying the rooms. Zubr Project Manager Tom recalls, “visiting the site was essential for clarification on measurements and tracking image placements. With assistance from the very helpful staff of Margam Park, we managed to pick locations that worked for us both, optimising visitor flow to make sure that everyone can take their turn using the AR.” Despite the chilly conditions, these visits proved essential in accurately anchoring the app’s virtual reconstructions to Margam’s physical space.

The Zubr team embarked on a final visit to the castle for the app’s launch, where Margam Castle’s dedicated volunteers got to experience the app for the first time. Many keen history enthusiasts were able to explore the castle’s historic interiors in AR, visualising their beloved castle as it once would have looked.

The M[AR]GAM app is more than just an augmented reality experience – it is a means of preserving and sharing a cultural treasure. It was vital that the app was fully bilingual, providing content in both English and Welsh. By making the castle’s interiors accessible in Welsh, the app honours its Welsh history and strengthens the use of the language in digital, innovative contexts. Furthermore, it ensures that Margam Castle’s story remains accessible and vibrant for local residents as well as visitors from afar, blending technology with heritage to foster a deeper connection with Welsh history.

Margam Castle joins Zubr’s portfolio of historic reconstructions, faithfully captured in augmented reality for visitors to explore. The M[AR]GAM app joins our Acropolis AR app, which restores the ancient Athenian monument, and our Carrickfergus Castle App, which brings the interiors of this Norman castle to life – along with many other iconic landmarks!