An immersive experience into the world of communication!

Compiled by TeamIAnD

Photography: Courtesy v2com

Read Time: 2 mins

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Kossmann.dejong designs a new permanent exhibition for the Swiss Museum of Communication, Bern, Switzerland.

As part of its recent renovation, the Museum of Communication in Bern is hosting a new permanent exhibition designed by Kossmann.dejong, where visitors delve into the fascinating, complex world of communication.

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Through interactive displays, surprising objects, large-scale projections and museum staff in the role of “communicators” visitors are invited to explore the subject of communication in all its facets and, at the same time, apply it in real life. As experience experts, they become aware of their own communication, the influence of big data and the current communication revolution.

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The main challenge involved spatially translating the abstract theme of “communication” into a coherent exhibition. And to effect this, nine key questions such as “Why do I communicate?”, “Which skills do I need to communicate?” and “How do I live in a fast-changing world of communication?” were formulated by an expert team from the museum, and form the starting point of the design concept.

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Kossmann.dejong clustered these questions into different themes spread across three floors in the building. Perhaps the most important interactive elements in the new museum are the “communicators”: specially trained museum staff, who assume the role of experts, guides and actors, but are foremost just regular people, who engage with the visitors and encourage communication between them. The communicators ask questions, tell jokes or undertake challenges with visitors. The exhibition scenography is designed to facilitate these interactions.

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The search for personal answers to the key questions begins on the ground floor at the registration area, where the message “It’s all about you” clearly sets the scene and the visitor takes on the spotlight. As an introduction to the exhibition, visitors step onto a red carpet, where personal stories from Swiss citizens tell a chronological representation of communication throughout all stages of life.

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Simultaneously the red carpet visually connects a collage wall with unique artefacts on one side of the space with a communication lab on the other side. While the collage-wall offers an informative visual experience, the lab activates and connects visitors. Together they solve a puzzle, dine with strangers or act in a film scene. On the surrounding walls, visitors can explore the key questions more in-depth and participate in challenges with the communicators if they wish.

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As they move on, visitors encounter the world of memories and further experience the impact of shared networks and examine ethical questions about the value and apparent infinite availability of data storage. The journey ends as they move through milestones of the communication revolution, with a visionary glimpse into the future.  

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Awarded for their innovative design approach of transforming spaces into opportunities for stories and social connections, Kossman.dejong have been recognized by the prestigious American Architecture Prize 2017 Firm of the Year Award. This project is the firm’s first project in Switzerland.