Old Ladoga: A Walk Through a City That Doesn’t Exist
Project Topic
Interactive 3D Platform for Studying the History of the Northwest Rus, Using Staraya Ladoga as an Example
Problem
Old Ladoga was the first capital of Ancient Rus'. However, today, all that remains of it are isolated monuments and modern development. Without studying the archives, it is impossible to picture what it looked like in the past. Tourists find it difficult to understand what the city was like historically or to truly connect with the spirit of the old era.
Solution
A digital environment will be created where users can independently explore a reconstructed city (similar to Google Maps, but focused on historical landmarks). This platform can exist as an independent website or be directly integrated into regional museums. Furthermore, the platform will become an accessible educational tool: instructors will be able to utilize 3D models in classes to visually demonstrate what ancient Russian cities looked like, moving beyond static textbook images.
Project Format
This is a website. The platform opens directly in your browser—no downloads or installations are necessary. Accessible History. Users gain a visual understanding of what the city looked like, without needing to study academic papers or archival documents. Scalability. In the future, the platform can be expanded by adding other cities of Ancient Rus' (Pskov, Novgorod, Izborsk), creating a unified network of digital reconstructions.
