Long associated with shipping and maritime movements, the humble shipping container was the logical choice when tasked to design a travelling exhibition and education hub for the WA Maritime Museum.
A long way from its original purpose, the 20 foot sea container has been modified into a state of the art, go anywhere micro-museum and education hub.
Watching the container unfold is akin to seeing a transformer come to life. A full side of the container is hydraulically operated to lower and form a generous deck space for visitors revealing all the Museum has to offer. While expanding the floor space for more visitors to experience the container, an automated shade awning extends over the exterior to provide shade and comfort for visitors while they enjoy the micro-museum.
Venturing inside the container, visitors encounter experiences such as engaging daily demonstrations from the museum staff on any number of themes, that evolve and adapt to wherever the container is located. Custom showcases provide display space for various objects – recently it was all things crustacea in Mandurah for the annual Crabfest. Interactive displays provide engaging experiences for young and old alike, whilst the large LCD screens on either side of the cabinetry stream live, close up footage from today’s presentation – anything from dissections to the latest close up encounters of Western Australia’s unique creatures.
The museum in a container is a revelation in travelling exhibition spaces, working on the project with the WAM team to take this simple box and design it into the functional go anywhwere exhibition space has been a fantastic project to be involved in.
