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"Recreating" a Harry Potter Filming Location with 3D Scanning

March 10, 2026 Applications 9789

Oxford University 3D Scans the Divinity School — A Harry Potter Location Gets "Digitally Preserved"

Oxford University's Divinity School, a 15th-century building renowned not only for its ornate vaulted ceiling but also as a filming location for the Harry Potter movies, is now the subject of an ambitious project: high-precision 3D scanning of its entire ceiling.

Led by a team from the Factum Foundation, the process began in October 2024, combining photogrammetry and LiDAR technology to capture every detail of the ceiling from multiple angles. Scaffolding was even erected on-site to meticulously document those high-up stone carvings.

First, for "preservation." With such an ancient structure, should any weathering or damage occur in the future, a high-precision 3D model serves as the ultimate blueprint for restoration.

Second, for "appreciation." The intricate Perpendicular Gothic stone carving is so complex that the average visitor, simply gazing upward, can barely grasp the details. With a 3D model, researchers can study it minutely, and the public can experience its intricacies up close through replicas.

Third, for "revival." The project team has already created full-scale resin replicas from the scan data for exhibition. In the future, this digital asset can be used for even more interactive experiences and broader dissemination.

While the Divinity School is the most ambitious undertaking of the ARCHiOx program to date, it's far from the only one. Launched in 2022, ARCHiOx aims to use advanced imaging techniques to "digitize" the precious yet often inaccessible artifacts and architectural details within the Bodleian Libraries' collections.

As manual restoration skills become increasingly rare, using 3D scanning and 3D printing to protect and restore cultural heritage is becoming an increasingly common and vital approach.