Bundeshaus · Building explorer

Warning

Only publicly available data was used, the model is not survey grade accurate.

Explore an evolving 3D reconstruction of the Swiss Parliament building in Bern. Built with vanilla JavaScript and Three.js, with models and runtime dependencies stored in this repository. No build step or npm install.

Demo

Live app: https://bbl-dres.github.io/reconstruction/

Viewer captures. The cover is conceptual artwork; more previews and image details.

How this was made

A large language model (LLM) researched publicly available data to reconstruct the Bundeshaus using 3D modeling software. Successive iterations are exported to GLB for this viewer.

This is an experimental reconstruction: dimensions, unseen spaces and some element properties are inferred. It is incomplete and is not a surveyed BIM model.

Features

• Four views: Exterior, Dollhouse, Floor plan and Walk, with continuous camera framing.
• Explore and inspect: saved viewpoints, points of interest, highlighted elements and BIM-style family/type information.
• Reviewed product inventory: whole-object selection and counts independent of visible floors. Full-building IFCZIP downloads include explicitly unclassified reference geometry. Coverage and limitations.
• Compare iterations: explore selected milestones, latest by default; share a link with the current view and camera.
• Set the scene: optional surroundings, muted context, sun, sky and shadows with date/time controls.
• Desktop and touch controls: responsive panels, keyboard navigation and adjustable rendering quality.

Run locally

From the repository root:

python scripts/serve.py

Open localhost:8000. Edit HTML, CSS or JavaScript and refresh. Use --port 8001 for another port; opening index.html through file:// does not support model loading.

Documentation

• Viewer guide — usage, development, runtime performance and responsive design.
• Model handoff — BIM families, model performance, conversion, annotations and IFC reference delivery.

License

Project code: MIT. Bundled dependencies and third-party reference material retain their respective licenses and terms.

Third-party technology acknowledgments lists the libraries used by the 3D viewer.