Saving the monuments of the past with the tools of the future

Saving the monuments of the past with the tools of the future

The restoration of architectural heritage is in crisis. IKONERA provides a concrete, rapid and faithful response to the original.

A heritage in need of repair

Thousands of listed buildings, historic monuments and remarkable architectural features are waiting to be restored, but never get around to it. The reasons are well known: traditional workshop lead times can run into months, sometimes years. There are fewer and fewer sculptors capable of faithfully reproducing a Baroque ornament or a Romanesque capital. And the budgets of municipalities, local authorities and heritage conservation associations are under increasing pressure.

As a result, we're allowing what we can't afford to buy to fall into disrepair. Historic facades are losing their sculpted details, replaced by generic elements or simply left in their raw state. It's a silent but profound cultural loss.

Digital precision for historical accuracy

Heritage restoration requires one thing above all else: faithfulness to the original. This is where IKONERA technology brings its most direct value. From a photogrammetric survey, a 3D scan or even a high-resolution photograph of the element to be restored, IKONERA's AI reconstructs a precise 3D model of the original motif. The robot then reproduces this element in the appropriate stone - identically, to the exact dimension, with the same degree of detail as the original.

This ability to reproduce elements from partial or degraded references - half a column, a fragment of cornice - is particularly valuable for restoration. It allows us to complete elements for which we no longer have the original template.

Deadlines and costs finally compatible with public budgets

In the past, a local authority wishing to restore the sculpted façade of its church or town hall had to choose between a multi-year project with a substantial budget, or a simplified restoration in cement that betrayed the spirit of the building. IKONERA offers a third way: elements restored in natural stone, faithful to the original, delivered in a few weeks, at a cost reduced by up to 90% compared with the traditional artisanal method.

For local authorities, heritage offices and associations for the protection of historic monuments, it's a paradigm shift. What used to be financially out of reach is now realistic. What used to take years can now be planned in a matter of months.

A partner for wealth management professionals

IKONERA works in close collaboration with heritage architects, specialist design offices and cultural institutions. From the initial survey to the delivery of the restored piece, each project receives personalised support. The traceability of the material (origin of the stone, composition), compliance with Swiss standards and documentation of the process are guaranteed.

IKONERA's heritage and restoration network is already active in French-speaking Switzerland, with discussions underway with a number of local authorities and institutions. The ambition is clear: to become the benchmark partner for the preservation of Switzerland's - and ultimately Europe's - architectural heritage.

→ Do you have a restoration project? Contact us at ikonera.art