The medieval Scharfenstein castle, located in the core of the Ore Mountains, is a popular destination for day-trippers, especially families. The requirement that we needed to fulfil in this project was to design our exhibition architecture in the look of a typical mining tunnel. We aimed at recreating the feeling of working in a mine as closely as possible: In darkness, under a low ceiling, with the sound of dripping water and the noise of miners at work. The exhibition narrates the history from the first discovery of ore deposits in the 12th century up to the inscription of the Ore Mountain Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region as World Heritage Site in 2019.

We used original rocks from the quarry, custom-crafted decorative rocks, and stone finishes on the ceiling to create the atmosphere of a tunnel. Fluorescent minerals that are made to glow with UV light and luminous mountain spirits designed for the exhibition take the visitors on a thrilling journey into the mine. At the end of the track, young visitors can use the tunnel’s toboggan that we incorporated into the exhibition or engage with the media station featuring an endless runner game that was implemented by vienom OG.

For this project, we delivered the following services: Preliminary design, design, implementation planning| execution/coordination and control of the construction measures on site | development and implementation of the graphic concept | interactive hands-on-stations | content development of the media station