A Monumental Experience: “The Earth” in the Gasometer Oberhausen

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.

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.

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.

• Flawless Projection Calibration: 12 projectors were meticulously aligned and fine tuned to create a seamless, hyper-realistic Earth globe.

• Intelligent Media Control: A smart remote maintenance system reduced the need for on site interventions by 95%.

• Climate Management for Technical Equipment: To safeguard the delicate projection systems and media servers, we developed a custom heating and ventilation control system.