Immersive
The Queen Street House
The challenge was to design an immersive space to raise awareness of a 17th century former clockworks in Derby, that was currently inaccessible to the public.
Working within constrictions of budget and an alternative venue (whose dimensions were only confirmed shortly before the exhibition) the solution was a combination of scrolling wall projections, videos and 'three dimensional illustrations' to tell the tale of the building and its past residents.
Telling the story.
In addition to clockmakers, the past residents also included John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, Lunar Society founder, John Whitehurst and Joseph Wright 'of Derby', whose 'candlelight' paintings caused him to be known as 'the painter of light'.
A theme was developed - 'The House of Time, Space and Light', with playful, illuminated 'three dimensionals', with which visitors could engage, as an entertaining part of the storytelling.
Sense of place
Although the design was very much intended to have a 'dark room' setting, it was designed with adaptability in mind, with a view to applications in subsequent venues and also as an insurance against technical issues.
The preplanning proved invaluable, as shortly after the exhibition closed, a request was made for a restaging in Derby Cathedral. The building is brightly illuminated by unshaded windows, and in the month of June, there was no possibility of it being dark enough to deploy the lighting effects.
The illustrations were still able to tell the story and the exhibition was well recieved.