Odyssey

Sarner has designed and delivered a major new visitor attraction that takes visitors on an immersive and informative journey through the past and present of the beautiful islands of Malta, bringing their history and heritage to life like never before. The cutting-edge attraction combines entertainment with education and features an immersive dark walk experience and a flying theatre ride – the first of its kind in Malta.

Location

St. Julian’s, Malta

Services

- Story, Research & Interpretation - Opportunity Assessment - Market and Competitor Research - Visitor Analysis - Business Plan Development - Branding & Marketing - Concept Design & Visualisation - Architectural & MEP Coordination - Masterplanning - Scheme & Detailed Design - Project Engineering & Technical Design - Interior Design, Set and Staging Design - Lighting, Audio, Video, Network Design - Writing & Content Development - Media & Film Production - Audiovisual & Interactive Technologies - Graphics - Lighting - Theming - Show Control Specification - Show Programming - Technical Installation & Commissioning - Tender Administration - Art Direction - Installation Supervision - Special effects, 4D Vibration, Movement & Smell - Construction & Installation - Support & Maintenance - Training - Consultancy

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Odyssey

Client's brief

Sarner's brief was to design and deliver a commercially successful immersive experience that not only informs and captivates visitors but also brings Malta’s rich history and iconic landmarks to life in a dynamic and engaging way. The goal was to create a compelling narrative that would resonate with a diverse audience, seamlessly blending educational content with an exhilarating flying theatre ride to leave a lasting impression.

Our solution

The new attraction is a fully immersive multisensory experience, education, and celebration of Malta in 60 minutes, featuring advanced effects that include projection mapping, 3D multi-channel sound, smoke, and water effects.

The experience seamlessly harmonises immersive storytelling and informative scene-setting shows with a historical story-led flying theatre ride and immersive special effects to create an attraction that is both educational and thrilling.

The project showcases the remarkable outcomes achievable when world-class experiential design meets technical ingenuity, transporting visitors to another world - all while overcoming complex architectural challenges.

This ground-breaking project continues to enhance Sarner’s reputation as an industry trailblazer, exemplifying our unique expertise in combining the substance and authenticity of cultural attractions with the experiential power of themed entertainment and motion rides to create new generation immersive ‘edutainment’ experiences that meet the increasingly sophisticated, demanding expectations of modern audiences.

Features

The cutting-edge attraction is situated inside Mercury Towers, an iconic new development designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (and one of the last designs that featured the hand of Zaha herself). At ground level, this new destination retains an impeccable reimagining of the historic, Grade 2 listed Mercury House – an important architectural monument and the site of the attraction – which has been painstakingly restored and repurposed to be enjoyed by future generations.

The attraction begins with a multi-show dark walk that reveals the traces of history which lie behind all that is on offer in Malta today. The visitors’ journey begins in Neolithic Malta, thousands of years ago, exploring the lives of its first inhabitants and some of the world’s oldest man-made structures - the ancient Ħaġar Qim temples, among the earliest religious sites on Earth. Immersive projections and atmospheric lighting bring this ancient world to life in stunning detail, creating a theatrical storytelling experience. A sunburst effect, simulating the solstice, pours down the corridor through atmospheric smoke, pulling visitors deeper into the story.

Visitors then uncover Malta's dramatic military history, from medieval battles against the Ottoman Empire to the British arrival in the 19th century. Historic conflicts are depicted through dynamic digital storytelling, combined with sensory effects and smoke to enhance the immersive experience.

Visitors then proceed to explore the fascinating history of Mercury House itself. During WWII, it served as a vital underground control centre and communication hub, connecting the UK and North Africa despite attempts by Italian submarines to sever undersea cables. A 360° projection show immerses visitors in Malta’s wartime communication history, emphasising its strategic importance.

A vibrant immersive experience celebrates present-day Malta. From surfing and scuba diving to its historic landmarks, the experience highlights the best the islands have to offer, presenting a unique blend of culture, adventure, and history.

The visit culminates with a ride on board a custom-built flying theatre simulator. Guests are seated in chairlift-style seats that elevate before a large, spherical screen. Stunning visuals are enhanced by multisensory effects, creating the illusion of truly flying over the landscape. This thrilling experience takes visitors on a magical flight around the islands and through time, seamlessly blending education and excitement. The ride builds on the knowledge visitors have gained throughout their journey through the heritage attraction, delivering an emotionally charged and unforgettable finale. Structured as a journey through time, it helps visitors connect the dots, showing how events of the past have shaped the present while igniting excitement about Malta’s future.