«Secret Rivers» at the Museum of London Docklands

Starting Point

Secret Rivers, an exhibition in the Museum of London Docklands, unveils the secrets of London’s historic rivers — the waterways that shaped the city and its people.

In close cooperation with the museum’s team, Sarner International Ltd developed an exhibition design enabling discoveries and insights at a dynamic exhibition surprising visitors and immersing them in London’s secrets of hidden rivers and roads.

Solution

“Fluidity” played a decisive role in the exhibition’s physical development. To create a sense of fluids and movement throughout the entire exhibition, a structure of lightweight frames was designed, meandering through the room and describing the seven topics. Using frames covered with a semi-sheer fabric, the designers created a wall structure letting through light while giving enticing views of the exhibition. The result was a sense of secretiveness, fascinating visitors on their journeys through the exhibition.

The criteria for the textile selection were as follows: thickness and transparency of the fabric, which could still be tightly stretched to be used as a projection screen, as well. In addition, the textile had to be flame-retardant and available in 3 m width.