November 5, 2025 I As we all know, the devil is in the details. But with him come small and big stories waiting to be discovered: as of October, nearly 2,000 digitized items are available online as 3D models in the Kulturpool. They can often be explored down to the smallest detail. From the reconstruction of a Roman building to an Upper Austrian square farmstead, from a baroque doll's house to the famous silk Vienna hunting tapestry, from a small penny to a guardian angel statue – users can enlarge, rotate, and marvel at the objects at will. What often ends at the museum's display case glass can now be viewed from anywhere with a click of the mouse. However, the 3D digitization of collection objects and buildings also has other advantages: it documents the condition of perishable materials, thus supporting the restoration of the original and ultimately preserving valuable knowledge for future generations. One example of this is the elaborate reconstruction of the Heidentor gate in Petronell-Carnuntum as part of the EU Commission's Twin It initiative (2023-2024).

400,000 new digital copies arrived at Kulturpool over the summer. These include artistic paintings, historical books, maps, and correspondence, as well as kitchen utensils from yesteryear and fashion from many decades. Since its relaunch in March 2024, the search portal and competence center at the Natural History Museum Vienna (NHM) has been growing not only in numbers but also in dimensions: 

“The digitization of objects is picking up speed. 3D digital copies in particular make it possible to experience our cultural heritage independently of time and place,” says Doris Wolfslehner, representative of the Ministry of Culture (BMWKMS) and initiator of the project.

Currently, 126 museums, archives, and libraries from all over Austria are represented in the Kulturpool with digitized objects. In addition to the Volkskundemuseum Wien, the 3D objects in the Kulturpool also come from the Alban Berg Foundation, the WestLicht Photo and Camera Museum, the State Collections of Lower Austria, St. Mary's Cathedral Linz, the Austrian Society for Medieval and Modern Archaeology, the Austrian Archaeological Institute at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OEAW), the City Museum of St. Pölten, and the Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz. 

“I invite anyone who's interested in checking out the diversity of Kulturpool and its partner institutions and get some inspiration for their own work or hobbies,” says Katrin Vohland, Director General of the Natural History Museum Vienna, where Kulturpool is based. 
A large part of the digitized objects are currently still in preparation and will go online in the coming months. In addition, the Kulturpool is also growing thanks to newly digitized objects from existing partner institutions.

Since connecting to Kulturpool in July 2025, the Vienna Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art has made around 20,000 digitised objects, photographs, publications and archival materials available – almost 100 of which are in 3D format.
"By integrating our approximately 20,000 digitised items into the Kulturpool, the cultural heritage of the Vienna Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art becomes part of a larger, open knowledge space. Researchers, teachers and interested parties will have access to collections that were previously unavailable online and can use them for scientific, creative or journalistic purposes, as well as for school lessons or private use. Together with Kulturpool, we are creating new ways of sharing and developing knowledge," says Matthias Beitl, Director of the Volkskundemuseum Wien.

A quick pan and we find ourselves in the middle of the 18th century. More precisely, in a low, wood-panelled room with two chests, a wooden table and two chairs. The thick, green window glass blocks our view outside. What kind of panorama can be seen there? One thing is clear: we are in a cosy parlour in Montafon in Vorarlberg. An inscription on the door tells us the year it was built: 1807. At that time, the area belonged to the Kingdom of Bavaria. Who might have come and gone here every day? The light must have been dim. On the ceiling, we see a swivelling candlestick arm. It could be used to direct the tallow lamp over the octagonal table or into the corner of the stove as desired. Curious, we approach the large chest in the parlour and look into the open drawer. Two zooms and a few clicks later, we have left the parlour and are looking the devil straight in the face. Surrounded by colourfully painted wooden figures – all equipped with instruments and props – the carved Beelzebub holds a sheet of music in one hand and a pan flute in the other. The intricately crafted chapel is part of the Mechanical World Theatre (Theatrum mundi) from the collection of the Volkskundemuseum Wien. And, like the Vorarlberg parlour, it can be explored and viewed from all sides thanks to 3D digitisation. These examples show that 3D models take us on personal journeys to different worlds and times.

Around 2,000 objects in 3D format are already available at kulturpool.at – a diverse source that is freely and easily accessible. Annotations provide various details about the objects, which can be accessed with a click. Some of the objects are also animated, such as the chess set from the Styrian Salzkammergut region dating from the early 19th century. As soon as the 3D model is loaded, the storage box opens, the chessboard unfolds and the chess pieces float onto the board, each to its position. Now you can view the 32 wooden pieces up close and study every carved detail.

Mag. Irina Kubadinow, Head of Press & Public Relations & press spokesperson

Johanna Amlinger, +43 1 406 8905 57
Gesine Stern, +43 676 5668523
presse@volkskundemuseum.at

Dr. Daniela Apaydin, Communications