A Monumental Experience: “The Earth” in the Gasometer Oberhausen
Gasometer | Oberhausen | 2017
Envision complete darkness. Only a few steps separate visitors from the glowing blue planet in the world’s largest exhibition hall. They step into a fascinating, oversized world and an immersive galactic universe.
The Earth appears gigantic, seemingly floating in the vast, dimly lit space. A sense of weightlessness takes hold as one gazes at the planet, as if observing the bustling activity of day and night from a spaceship.
How can this feeling be created for exhibition visitors? And how can the blue planet be portrayed in all its beauty and fragility? These key questions led our collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to develop one of Europe’s largest immersive Earth projections: a 20-meter-wide, floating globe brought to life by 12 high-performance projectors with 72 million pixels.
Originally conceived for the exhibition “Wonders of Nature” (2017–2018) and later showcased in “The Fragile Paradise” (2021–2023), we handled the technical development, planning, installation and ongoing operation of this extraordinary Earth projection throughout the exhibition periods.
Suspended in the 90 meter high interior of the Gasometer, this multimedia installation became a breathtaking spectacle, captivating millions of visitors.
- Millions of fascinated visitors
- 2+
- Millions of pixels in native resolution
- 30
- Projection screen
- 1.256 m²
- Diameter of the Earth sculpture
- 20m
What made this media installation so challenging?
The Gasometer is far from a typical exhibition space. It is a technical extreme zone. With temperature fluctuations ranging from below 0°C to over 40°C, humidity levels reaching up to 100% and vast projection distances of up to 72 meters, it posed immense challenges. Here, absolute precision and unwavering dedication to one’s work were essential.
Technology meets fascination: Projection in perfection
With this project, the boundaries between reality and the digital world dissolve almost seamlessly. High-resolution, dynamic satellite imagery, produced by the German Aerospace Center, is projected with absolute precision onto the Earth sculpture. Glowing vividly within the dark and often cold Gasometer, visitors are able to experience our planet in a breathtakingly new way.
Transforming Cutting Edge Technology into an Immersive Experience
At their core, cameras and projectors operate on the same fundamental optical principles: cameras capture light on a microchip, while projectors use a microchip to display video images. This concept shaped our workflow, enabling us to bring this monumental Earth installation to life.
From satellite observation to seamless projection: A 3D model of the Earth was captured by twelve virtual cameras, creating a fully immersive digital representation. Inside the Gasometer, these images were precisely mapped onto the suspended Earth balloon using projectors This resulted in a mesmerizing, lifelike depiction of our planet.
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Flawless Projection Calibration: 12 projectors were meticulously aligned and fine tuned to create a seamless, hyper-realistic Earth globe.
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Intelligent Media Control: A smart remote maintenance system reduced the need for on site interventions by 95%.
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Climate Management for Technical Equipment: To safeguard the delicate projection systems and media servers, we developed a custom heating and ventilation control system.
From Concept to Immersive Media Installation
Our journey began with a feasibility study to explore the potential of this extraordinary space which is 67 meters in diameter and 90 meters high. Through our collaboration with German Earth Observatory, the concept of an Earth projection emerged. During the design phase, we used VR simulations to determine the ideal size and placement of the Earth sculpture.
From initial technical feasibility assessments, to specialized media technology planning and full-scale implementation, we oversaw every step of the process.
The result was that more than two million visitors were captivated by Wonders of Nature (2017–2018) and The Fragile Paradise (2021–2023). These exhibitions showcased the power of technology and in turn, created something visually stunning as well as inspiring to the human imagination. The result was a one of a kind Earth projection that gave visitors the breathtaking sensation of observing our beautiful planet from space.
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