Niederrheinmuseum – Leben mit dem Wasser

For the complex media installations, 235 MEDIA developed three technically sophisticated exhibits—from the initial concept through hardware and software to full implementation. Each station was precisely tailored to its specific content and combines digital technologies with intuitive, analog interaction.

A particular highlight is the dialect listening wall, which uses more than 40 specially developed audio modules to bring the linguistic diversity of the Lower Rhine to life. At first, all the dialects blend together into a polyphonic tapestry of sound. Only by using a specially designed listening cup can visitors immerse themselves in specific linguistic areas along the Rhine and discover the region’s cultural diversity.

The interactive city-building game is a tangible application developed by 235 MEDIA. Physical building models are recognized on an interactive surface and assembled in real time to form a medieval city. As players place streets, buildings, and structures, the digital city evolves dynamically. At the end, the system evaluates the resulting settlement and compares it to historical models from the Lower Rhine region.

The third station combines digital projection with a precisely milled city model of historic Wesel. Maps, animations, and historical developments are projected onto the physical model with millimeter precision. Through various thematic layers—ranging from fortification construction and defense to the history of the Huguenots—historical contexts become spatially visible and can be experienced intuitively.

All three media installations demonstrate how digital technologies can convey complex content in an understandable and playful way. In-house developed hardware and software, precise media technology, and close integration with the scenography create interactive exhibition elements that blend seamlessly into the overall concept and bring history to life in new ways.