de Woldemer
An interactive exhibition dedicated to the history of the City of Valmiera telling its story from the 13th-18th century. It is located in the city’s historical center, where its most significant events have unfolded over the centuries. The exhibition’s five themes are arranged in two buildings: the city’s oldest building and its new glazed annex. Resembling a showcase, the new museum annex highlights three themes juxtaposed with the historical substance of Valmiera Castle.
Agency
Design studio H2E
Practice Area
Client
Valmiera Municipality Council
Industry
The exhibition’s showcases and other elements are laconic, interpreting the dimensions of the medieval brick, and integrating exhibits plus analogue and digital information. In the historical building, two themes told in the form of interpretive stories relate the city’s history, culture, and the habits of its citizens, along with the presence of Church authorities in medieval time. Creatively, the exhibition transforms facts into stories, stories into ideas, and ideas into a quality visiting experience, allowing visitors to discover information for themselves. The exhibition’s goal is to prompt visitors to become explorers and discover the story of Valmiera. The worldview and splendor of Hanseatic merchants and the skills of artisans are revealed through sound, Gregorian chants, projections of the shadows of ancient images, monotype drawings and many artifacts. The use of technologies leaves space for the visitor’s imagination. The balance between analogue and digital means of expression is vital, engaging the visitor in the process of discovering content. The choice of font reflects immersion in ancient writings: CORMORANT makes a direct reference to historical heritage, complemented by the modern font NATIONAL 2. The exhibition graphics are comprised of original monotype drawings.
The Challenge
The challenge was to showcase this major exhibition in five languages. The solution was to create an interactive city key to activate information in the relevant language at 47 interactive points. The keycard symbolizes the historical keys found in archaeological digs and is the key to interaction.
Project Vision
The project’s success was the close cooperation with the community historians, practitioners of ancient crafts, connoisseurs of ancient languages and locals. A place was created whose light atmosphere and interactive approaches inspire Valmierans to be patriots of their city and guests to return. The project juxtaposes history with modernity in the form of the new glazed museum building, inviting visitors to appreciate the roots of history and concurrently gain new perspective. In the exhibition, openness alternates with mystery and diverse cognitive possibilities hold the visitor’s attention. The shadow projections are immersive and bring the museum spaces to life. Through the integration of five languages, foreign guests are made to feel most welcome. Thus, Valmiera maintains its noteworthy place among other historic Hanseatic cities and continues to tell its story as a progressive and contemporary regional center.
Anna Olsen
Anna Olsen
Design + Execution
The design accentuates each theme, e.g. for the story of the life of the Church and monks, elements are designed to interpret the scriptorium of the Middle Ages. The exhibition has a specially designed collection of furniture, plus exhibition elements and individually designed interactions that introduce medieval cooking, travelers’ stories and clothing habits. Information is integrated into elements: here a bench is not merely a bench, it also introduces various types of medieval measures. The exposition is simultaneously open yet mysterious, offering personalized information and placing visitors and their needs center stage, making time spent here is both inspiring and informative. The project was executed within the available budget. However, for reasons beyond our control, it was delayed due to material and service price inflation (COVID and the war in Ukraine). In the face of these complications, we found the best alternative solutions.
Anna Olsen
Anna Olsen
Anna Olsen
Anna Olsen
Anna Olsen
Project Details
Design Team
Ingūna Elere (creative director)
Holgers Elers (creative director)
Ģirts Arājs (main designer)
Mārtiņš Vītols (designer)
Laura Lorence (graphic designer)
Ieva Timoško (graphic designer)
Linda Rudzīte (project manager)
Dagnija Andersone (project manager)
Baiba Grīnberga (content coordinator)
Dmitry Volovik (av specialist)
Sergey Fomicev (video)
Elīna Elere (artist)
ZGT arhitekti (architecture)
Reverie Trading Group (digital fabrication)
Design Studio H2E (physical fabrication)
Collaborators
Iveta Blūma, Liene Rokpelne (content)
Dāvis Pumpuriņš (content)
Alberts Rokpelnis (content)
Photo Credits
Anna Olsen
Open Date
July 2023