About the Project
Our Vision
COLOURS — Collaborative On-cloud Lab for the conservation and digital restoration of ColOUred heritage collectionS — aims to transform the practice of cultural heritage restoration by placing colour at the centre of an innovative digital framework. We are developing advanced tools and collaborative environments to analyse, simulate, and visualise restoration outcomes, enabling more precise and sustainable conservation strategies for Europe’s most precious artefacts.
These tools will be fully integrated into the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage (ECCCH) to ensure they are accessible and scalable for all stakeholders. Learn more about the project on CORDIS.
Our Core Objectives
The COLOURS project is structured around four key objectives:
Build a Collaborative Environment
We are creating a hybrid digital space where conservators, curators, and scientists can meet and interact with 3D digital twins of artefacts in real-time, no matter where they are located.
Develop Predictive Restoration Tools
We are adapting and implementing AI-powered tools that allow experts to forecast and simulate various restoration strategies.
Create Tools to Assist Restoration
Our project will deliver a suite of digital tools that assist, document, and optimise the physical restoration process itself.
Enhance Public Engagement
We aim to make the restoration process more transparent and exciting for the public using immersive storytelling and mixed reality (AR/VR).
Our Approach
The COLOURS project follows a pilot-driven methodology that integrates advanced technology with a stakeholder-centred process. We begin by defining real-world restoration scenarios and engaging with heritage professionals to identify their needs. Based on this input, we build and adapt our digital tools, ensuring they are seamlessly integrated with the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage (ECCCH).
These tools are then demonstrated and validated through a series of internal and external pilot projects, allowing us to create a lasting impact through robust and user-friendly solutions.
Project Methodology (7 Steps)
Building on PERCEIVE
COLOURS builds on two years of research and development conducted under PERCEIVE, a Horizon 2020 initiative that developed cutting-edge methods for defending and promoting the authenticity of cultural heritage through advanced prototypes, digital tools and services — with a particular focus on colour perception, visual simulation, and multimodal interaction.
Taking the next step, COLOURS applies these technologies directly to restoration and conservation practice. By placing colour at the centre of conservation efforts, the project builds on the methodologies pioneered in PERCEIVE to develop tools that decode colour’s historical significance, simulate its original vibrancy, and ensure restored artefacts reflect their true authenticity and impact. The COLOURS Colour Knowledge Repository expands and upscales PERCEIVE’s foundations to integrate seamlessly with the ECHOES-ECCCH ecosystem.
