Norwegian Nature Centre

Sarner was engaged for a major creative renewal of one of Norway's premier attractions. Nestled in the breath-taking landscape of Hardanger National Park, sits a science centre that has harnessed cutting-edge technology to create a meeting point between nature and modern man. Set on three floors, the Norwegian Nature Centre takes visitors on an interactive, immersive journey, starting three billion years ago when Norway’s earliest rocks were formed far south of the Equator. By watching, touching, listening and learning, visitors become an active and creative part of the exhibition.

Location

Hardanger National Park, Norway

Services

Creative and Technical Design - Content Development - Media and Film Production - Interactive Technologies - Sets, Scenics and Graphics - Lighting Design and Specification - Audiovisual Design and Specification - Art Direction - Show Control Specification - Show Programming - Technical Installation and Commissioning - Brand Development - Languages & Multinational Support - Support & Maintenance - Ongoing Upgrades and Extensions

Awards

TripAdvisor - Certificate of Excellence, TripAdvisor - Travellers’ Choice

Links

Norwegian Nature Centre

Client's brief

After more than 20 years as ‘Hardangervidda Nature Centre, Eijford’, the region’s most popular visitor centre embarked on a major creative overhaul in 2018. In a staggeringly beautiful landscape of fjords, waterfalls, mountain pastures and wild reindeer, the new Norwegian Nature Centre aims to inspire a deeper appreciation for nature through imaginative storytelling. Our Client's goal was to incorporate the latest research from Norwegian experts and to create a new state-of-the-art experience and teaching facility that would attract, inspire and inform thousands of Norwegian and international visitors of all ages, who come to explore the country’s spectacular natural environment.

Play

Our solution

The Centre has three floors of exciting, life-affirming and powerful adventures with interactive stations, a cinema, rocks and minerals, fossils, models, aquariums, themed videos and illustrations. The whole exhibition is constructed as a journey through time, from three billion years ago up until today. It is presented in three main languages - Norwegian, English and German - plus an additional ten languages on fixed tablet computers by the installations. Dramatic lighting, powerful large-scale projections and a brand new visual identity transform each area, creating an ideal setting to discover the animals and activities that make this country so exciting. By understanding the geological forces that created this dramatic landscape and the impact of thousands of years of human interaction, visitors understand just how important it is to protect and preserve it for the future.

Compelling productions and impactful visuals accompany the visitors through the journey. In a breathtaking surround cinematic experience, a stunning CG sequence shows the volcanic chain of islands created billions of years ago that slowly became Norway as it is today. Another eye-catching feature of the exhibition is a unique high-resolution 360-degrees-view projection globe designed to engage and inform visitors of all ages and abilities about the complex plate tectonic processes that occur over huge spans of time. This unique design places the display at the optimum height for engagement by children and adults alike, whilst also using reliable projection technology to ensure the system is low-maintenance and robust. Our production team worked with renowned geologist Christopher Scortese to produce animations of the Earth’s tectonic plates, showcasing the movements of the continents and Norway’s journey to become the landmass it is today.

Using the latest research from Norwegian experts and scientists, the Centre’s multilingual, digital and physical interactive exhibits connect every visitor, both young and old, to the natural world all around them. Visitors delve into the science through stunning graphics, informative texts, and a wide range of engaging hands-on exhibits.

Our renowned scenic artists created a lifelike iced waterfall, rocks, vegetation and realistic human figures. We brought to life the Centre's collection of fossils, rocks, minerals and taxidermied specimens – exhibits that inspire a deeper appreciation for nature and engage visitors’ imaginations.

Sarner also assisted the Client in developing a new brand identity for the Norwegian Nature Centre, including re-design of the logo. Our branding team was inspired by the unusual shape of the Centre's building as well as the striking features of the Norwegian landscape to create a new memorable logo. The triangular shapes are reminiscent of mountain peaks, rivers and fjords, while the line also symbolises the heart beat and timeline of nature.