Video & Visuals: Experimenta

EXPERIMENTA

COMPANY: BARCO LOCATION: HEILBRONN, GERMANY

Germany’s largest science centre - experimenta, underwent a complete restructuring, including the realisation of an entirely new building. Part of this new iconic structure is the Science Dome, a unique hybrid multi-purpose space, which was developed and implemented by Austrian audiovisual specialist Kraftwerk Living Technologies. The space incorporates the highest quality and best technology into its intelligent design. The goal was to have a multipurpose facility that would allow for different types of shows, including more experimental, artistic and cutting-edge cultural experiences. experimenta wanted to incorporate the best quality shows, movies and special effects into its dome production.

The end result is a 150-seat auditorium, which can be rotated and is located underneath an enormous 700-metre sq dome screen displaying bright, clear, colourful images, complete with 3D audio technology and special effects such as fog and wind. As a science centre that appeals to people from ages four to 99, Kraftwerk LT used Barco components to create a dome that is experience-driven. By fostering an interest in science, technology and research in visitors of all ages and as an immersive and educational destination, especially for school groups, experimenta uses technology to spread a love of science and instil and reinvigorate a natural curiosity for the wonders that exist in the world today - with the Science Dome fitting right in.

The challenge was setting up the entire dome with a rotating platform, for the underlying end goal of being a multi-purpose facility. This globally unique space is able to offer planetarium and theatre experiences in one spectacular show. These two modes are event and dome mode. Event mode has a stage area of 100-metre sq, and supports lectures, art shows, music or theatre productions and digital cinema. Dome operation transitions the audience, while seated underneath the large projection area of 700-metre sq for 3D full dome and planetarium shows. This multi-purpose facility requires the best of both digital and analogue to allow for different types of shows.

Barco supplied six XDL 4K-60L projectors for the dome in 2D, as well as the 3D in 4K resolution at 120 fps. An opto-mechanical star projector for the planetarium element was needed and integrated into the dome set-up, as was a cinema projector, for which a Barco DP4K-30LRGB laser projector was installed. These all work together to create very bright, colourful and intense image projections. The dome itself has a resolution of 8K by 8K resulting in razor sharp images, and thanks to Barco true RGB laser light sources, they’re exceptionally bright and intense as well. Integrating this spectacular technology around video and audio as invisible as possible was

the challenge the Austrian audiovisual specialists from Kraftwerk LT faced and overcame. “What the technology does with the guests is important, not the technology itself,” said Jennifer Zika, Corporate Communications, Kraftwerk. “We wanted technology that was essentially invisible, which requires an enormous amount of reliability and trust. For the best possible outcome, we chose highly reliable, high-quality components, which all play together to create a unique installation and great guest experience.” www.barco.com