House of European History - Fake (F)or Real

The museum & the collection

The House of European History’s travelling exhibition project delves into the captivating theme of “Fake (F)or Real,” showcasing the profound impact that historical forgeries have had on our collective narrative. Through a carefully curated collection of artifacts and interactive displays, visitors are transported through time and challenged to question the authenticity of the stories we often take for granted.

By exploring the blurred lines between truth and deception, this project promises to ignite curiosity and inspire critical thinking, shedding light on the complex interplay between history, fabrication, and the enduring power of belief.

The assignment & the challenges

We took on the Design & Build of this fascinating international traveling exhibition. In efficient and enjoyable collaboration with our partner facts and fiction, we provided fit-out exhibits, showcases, Audiovisuals (AV), flexible/adaptable mounting supports, and graphics; bringing to life the 6 different content topics covered by the exhibition.

The exhibition elements had to be adaptable to various unfamiliar venues. Therefore, the museum required conservation-grade showcases which would be demountable, storable, and easy to transport. Additionally, it was necessary to repurpose existing media to meet new requirements.

Apart from requiring adaptability and flexibility in the exhibition elements, the project faced a highly ambitious timeline: one year for exhibition design, samples, prototypes, production, and full assembly.

Needless to say, designing and executing a project based on fully modular components withing a constrained budget and tight deadline presented a unique set of challenges.

The solutions & the results

The construction of the exhibition relied on our in-house solutions for the showcases, combined with cost-efficient techniques and materials or the fit-out.

21 wall-recessed cases, 1 Meyvaert modular case and 3 table cases are now beautifully, effectively and safely presenting, preservering and protecting the objects. Our scope also included custom-built mounting supports for 102 artifacts with adaptable functionality. On top of that, a large portion of the Audiovisual hardware and software was recycled from the inventory of the House of European History.

Thanks to various effective modifications and a few new purchases, the exhibition now boasts an impressive AV mix of screens, computers, media players, projectors, sound systems, touchscreens, and interactive software. All these exhibition building blocks are harmoniously intergrated into 33 exhibits built from OSB, Forex and aluminium extursions, and 9 backlit acrylic constructions.

The meticulous planning and modular approach resulted in an exhibition that was praised for achieving a quality matching that of a permanent exhibition. This success story demonstrates the power of creativity and determination in overcoming significant challenges to bring a captivating and thought-provoking experience to audiences across various locations in Europe.

© Karen Gkiounasian