Client:      UIO Kultur Historisk Museum, Oslo
Product:   300 sqm. exhibition and interaction design
Purpose:   Archeologic and Etnographic dissemination

The exhibition “Liv Laga” shows the meeting between selected archaeological and ethnographic objects in the museum’s collection, with a common focus on things that are made to make life better for humans. No Parking was initially chosen to develop the concept and exhibition design, and later we were also engaged to work with lighting design, graphics, interaction and visual content.

The process started with a series of development workshops in close collaboration with the museum’s professionals. Here the concept and premise for the exhibition was developed. We wanted to create an exhibition that should have something to offer both children and adults. No Parking has therefore worked with several layers that can be explored in different ways in the exhibition. On the one hand, it is a classic exhibition that appeals to a type of visitor who also expects to be able to access specialist knowledge about the objects and their origins. In relation to children and young people, we have developed a few interaction games where you can create your own “objects” digitally.

The design of the exhibition is made as two arches that mirror each other, and yet are separated by a transverse construction in the middle. It represents the meeting between two different museum disciplines – at the same time not directly comparing them. The transverse piece of furniture between the two arches allows for joint communication. Here, for example, an area has been set up where tactile objects that visitors are allowed to touch are on display. The furniture also functions as a seating area and contributes with the interactive screens built into the podiums.

In addition to the theme of improving life, the exhibitions portrays a central theme of time. This is interpreted both in the architecture, the visual design and the lighting. The architecture of the furniture uses incised grooves to communicate the different time aspects of the long course of archaeology, and the relatively young course of ethnography. At the same time, animations on wall projections and the ceiling light move through the room, to create an absolute sense of time passing. Moving through the exhibition, you will also experience how the movement of the light creates a variation in the experience.