Jen Library Reference Department

Image by Flickr User Stuck In Customs

The Acropolis. Michaelangelo’s Medici Chapel. Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye. While there’s no substitute for actually being there, the ARTstor database provides the next best thing: interactive, panoramic views of thousands of architectural icons. Sites and buildings from across the world, from antiquity to the present day, are available. Viewers can virtually place themselves within the image by looking around, up and down, as well as zooming in and out. And all it takes to get there is one simple search term.

While architects and art historians will appreciate the ability to closely inspect important details, I can easily see a game designer examining ancient temples while creating a Tomb Raider-style action sequence, or an interior designer gathering ideas for adding old-world library touches to a client’s study. Not to mention, the images are just fun to play around with!

To get started:

• Access ARTStor from SCAD Libraries’ list of databases (you will need your MySCAD ID to login)
• Type QTVR in the search box (with other keywords, if you like)
• Within the list of results, click the word “QTVR” which appears below the thumbnail (instead of the image itself)
• Enjoy!

And as with all of the material in ARTstor, SCAD students and faculty can use the images for research and classroom purposes, worry-free.