Since it was relaunched last year, Oslo’s Frammuseet (Fram Museum) has attracted many new visitors, not to mention the odd award. Now the UK companies that created the immersive experience at the new look maritime museum have revealed how it was done.
The polar ship that gives the museum its name is steeped in a rich history. The Fram voyaged to the Arctic and Antarctic between 1893 and 1912 with a Norwegian crew at the helm. It also carried the first person to reach the South Pole in 1911, before coming to rest in 1936.
Over 200,000 people now come to see the vessel each year in the Norwegian capital. However the Fram Museum was keen to upgrade the offering and turned to UK-based attraction AV integrator Sarner International to lead the installation project. After a multi-million krone renovation, the Frammuseet reopened in May 2018.
Visitors now experience a 270 degree film with a multichannel projection system that goes all the way around the boat. The challenge for Sarner and its partners was how to deliver this – introducing AV, lighting and multimedia technology – without damaging the integrity of the vessel.
Mike Ross of BlueBox Technology Solutions was brought on board by Sarner as an AV consultant. In turn, he turned to host of trusted suppliers, also from the United Kingdom. These included award-winning media server company 7thSense Design, loudspeaker manufacturer Ohm and Digital Projection, specialist in LED professional grade laser projectors.
Bringing the boat back to to life
“The vessel sits in a unique triangular building with tiers of walkways providing optics to three sides of the ship,” says Ross. “We decided to use the interior walls of the building as a canvas for projections depicting arctic conditions, whilst also bringing the boat itself back to life with atmospheric visuals and sound.”
Content from 10 Digital Projection E-Vision Laser 10K projectors make museum visitors feel completely surrounded when they are on the deck of the ship. Delivering 10,500 lumens, the cost-effective projectors are perfect for venues which have to contend with ambient light such as the Fram Museum. They bring the content to the audience with saturated colours, bright imagery and dark area detail.
Powering the AV engine room are 7thSense’s media servers. For the wall display, a single Delta Infinity media server – widely chosen by attractions worldwide for its performance and dependability – drives a 15-minute sequence. This takes visitors on a stormy journey through arctic conditions. Eventually the boat stalls in ice.
The engine room of the Fram now also houses a Digital Projection E-Vision Laser 6500 projector. This relays footage on how the ship’s engine worked. Lighting, smells and movement add to the sensory experience. Meanwhile four Ohm BRT-6 loudspeakers coupled with a TRS-218 subwoofer create engine rumble.
In the museum’s seated presentation area, a 7thSense Delta Nano media server powers two further Digital Projection E-Vision Laser 6500 projectors flanked by two Ohm BRT-6 loudspeakers. This set-up is used to project an archive footage. The experience continues in the front hold of the vessel. Here four Ohm BRT-6 loudspeakers and a BRS-12 subwoofer simulate the ship cracking into ice.
Stakeholder satisfaction
“This has been a beautifully executed project by all stakeholders,” says 7thSense Design’s technical director, Richard Brown. “We’re delighted that our products have been used to bring something with so much history and cultural importance to life.”
“There is no doubt that the addition of this cutting-edge AV has enriched the experience for every visitor, young and old,” adds the museum’s managing director, Geir O Kløver. “We’ve had some incredible feedback since re-opening to the public, with a substantial uplift in footfall. We are delighted with the end result, which has helped us to reinvigorate Fram’s legacy for future generations and years to come.”
Photos courtesy of Sarner
