The Moomin Museum creates experiences enhanced by AV and presentation technology

The revamped Moomin Museum was opened in June 2017 in Tampere Hall. Granlund was responsible for the museum’s overall technology and for designing the presentation and AV technology. Ideas were drawn from sources such as nature and Moomin books, and all the technical installations were designed around the content.

“In museums, technical solutions must be reliable but also subtle, because the most important task of technology is to support the script and story of the exhibition,” states Timo Muurinen, Project Manager of Presentation Technology at Granlund. “The technical solutions seek to combine durability with safety for the artworks, while also creating the correct atmosphere for the museum.”

“We wanted to bring the Moomins into the present day while keeping the art of Tove Jansson and Tuulikki Pietilä as the focus of the exhibition,” says Virpi Nikkari, the Moomin Museum’s Exhibition Manager. “Technology has been utilised in an appropriate manner, which required a long and innovative design phase involving Granlund, animators and sound and lighting designers. I am highly satisfied with the way that Timo Muurinen sought solutions and acted as the backbone of the entire design process.”

I am highly satisfied with the way that Timo Muurinen sought solutions and acted as the backbone of the entire design process.

Virpi Nikkari, the Moomin Museum’s Exhibition Manager

Unique presentation and AV technology

Tove Jansson’s stories come to life with the help of animations and projections in addition to art.

“Visitors can enjoy the exhibition simply by looking at it, but there are also experiences to be had, including the Magician’s Hat based on infrared light – a solution that is technically unique,” Nikkari says. “When a visitor steps inside the hat, a picture of the visitor is projected onto the wall, and soon after, elements such as Sniff’s ears can begin growing on top of the image!”

Experiences for different visitor groups

The starting points for the technical design were accessibility and approachability. The display cases are low, ensuring that children can see everything, a location service helps people with hearing loss, and audio descriptions are available for people with visual impairments.

“The museum’s internal location system, Jansson’s texts and an interactive info wall outside the museum have all been implemented in five languages and in simple language,” Nikkari says. “We use more simple language than in any other Finnish museum.”

Visitors from around the world have had only positive things to say about the museum.

“People come and spend a long time here. During the first month it was open, 20,000 people visited the museum from Finland as well as from places such as Japan, UK, and the USA, which is home to the newest group of Moomin fans,” Nikkari says. “We are certain to reach the target of 100,000 visitors in the first year.”

Images: Jari Kuusenaho / Tampere Art Museum

Want to hear more?

Risto Suojanen

Regional Director

Granlund Oy

+358 50 315 2567

firstname.lastname@granlund.fi