Sarner Designs and Installs New Upgrades to the Glacier Museum Exhibition

Sarner’s relationship with the museum began some 35 years ago, when we designed and installed the inaugural exhibition. This special partnership has stood the test of time, with Sarner delivering several upgrades over the decades and continuing to work closely with the museum’s directors and team to realise new and exciting projects. 

Climate change is accelerating faster than many had anticipated, and today’s headlines are filled with reports of floods, wildfires, and devastating storms. In response, the latest exhibition upgrades, designed and installed by Sarner, integrate the latest scientific findings, examining the negative consequences of man-made climate change and presenting stark projections for the future if no action is taken. Yet the exhibition also delivers a powerful message of hope: the future remains in our hands. Through informed choices and collective action, we have the opportunity to protect the planet, restore ecological balance, and create a better future for generations to come. 

Designed to be universally accessible, the upgraded exhibition relies on minimal text and powerful visual storytelling to deliver an emotional and engaging journey. The visual language is deliberately clean and modern, aligning with the exhibition’s theme - offering a vision of a future where science, technology, and nature coexist in balance. Through thoughtful spatial design and contemporary presentation, the exhibition evokes a strong sense of both urgency and optimism, encouraging visitors to reflect, feel, and act. 

The upgrade sees the museum’s climate story reimagined through a dynamic, two-part experience. 

• The first half, titled "Changing Climate - From Past to Future", explores the history of Earth’s climate in a timed, immersive sequence. Visitors are taken on a journey through time, from the formation of the atmosphere five billion years ago to periods where natural climate changes led to both much warmer and much colder conditions than we experience today. 

The narrative then shifts to show how humans have begun to influence the climate, setting the stage for the exhibition’s second half. 

• The second half focuses on the climate changes we are already facing today, and the future of our planet. Visitors experience the consequences of climate change and encounter the challenges humanity must confront - but they are also left with a message of hope: a better future is possible if we change our habits. The experience culminates with a moving film narrated by Sir David Attenborough, celebrating the diversity of life on Earth and underscoring the collective responsibility to protect it: "There is still time to act. Earth is the only home we have." 

The new upgrades successfully retain much of the original scenic and lighting elements, but the exhibition is now dramatically enhanced with large-scale projections, multi-screen installations, lighting effects, and stunning graphic environments. A key focus of the project was sustainability, with the aim of sensitively repurposing elements of the original exhibition wherever possible, breathing new life into original features while minimising waste. 

Working within the museum’s iconic building designed by renowned architect Sverre Fehn - with its distinctive angled walls and curved spaces - presented unique challenges. However, these architectural features were embraced as opportunities, with projections and scenic elements carefully integrated to not only respect but actively enhance the impact of the original design, creating a seamless and powerful visitor experience. 

Ross Magri, Managing Director at Sarner International, commented: "We are proud to have maintained such a close relationship with the Glacier Museum over three decades. This new upgrade builds on our shared commitment to meaningful storytelling, sustainable design, and inspiring action for the future of our planet." 

The new exhibition officially opens to the public on 9 May 2025.