Vienna giant Ferris wheel

The Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel is a landmark of the city. It was built in 1897 and was one of the largest Ferris wheels in the world at the time. Today, visitors experience the site not only as a historical monument, but also as a modern attraction. To make the waiting time in the new foyer more pleasant, a media wall was created to entertain guests and impart knowledge at the same time. Ars Electronica Solutions was responsible for the media presentation in the new foyer. As part of this project, Garamantis implemented the software for the media wall. The goal was to create a solution that would run reliably in continuous operation and display content in such a way that it would be present in the room without overloading the architecture.

Idea and structure of the media wall

Four networked screens are integrated into a flat, printed wall. These are integrated in such a way that they initially “disappear” into the homogeneous surface. Only when content is played does the surface open up visually, revealing digital elements. This gives the wall a calm appearance in its default state, while allowing it to be activated as needed.

Content and storytelling

A comic-like family was developed for the foyer to guide visitors through the content. In addition, a mascot was created to answer the family’s questions and summarize information in an easy-to-understand way. This results in short, clear learning units that are suitable for children as well as adults.

The content of the media wall is primarily historical and technical. Archival material was prepared in such a way that it remains easy to read and is aimed at different age groups. At the same time, the wall repeatedly shows the Ferris wheel in the present: via a live camera transmission from the carriages, those waiting can see what is happening and what the ride is like.

Result

The media wall combines architecture, entertainment, and information. It creates variety in the waiting situation, conveys knowledge without long text passages, and provides a direct link to the current ride through live images.

Photos: Ars Electronica Solutions