Doric Capitals

The project focuses on the creation of Doric capitals for the peristyle and facade of the Palace of Aigai. This process encompasses the design of molds derived from existing ancient architectural elements, the manufacturing of the molds, and the on-site casting of the capitals.

Two distinct types of molds were developed:

1. Molds for casting entirely new capitals.
2. Molds for completing and restoring ancient capitals recovered from the archaeological site.

The design of both mold types is grounded in photogrammetry data obtained from the preserved architectural fragments. These data sets are used to generate precise 3D models, which are then 3D-printed to fabricate modular molds tailored to the project’s requirements.

On-site restoration involves reinforcing ancient capitals requiring refilling with titanium rods before they are placed in the molds for mortar casting. The precision and reusability of the molds are critical, as each capital exhibits slight geometric variations and must align seamlessly with the Doric drums of their original columns, which also differ subtly in dimensions.

Ultimately, a single mold system—enhanced with interchangeable 3D-printed modular components—was utilized to cast 15 capitals, accommodating the unique characteristics of each piece while ensuring accuracy and historical fidelity.