the idea
a remote desert mountaintop was to become a visitor centre, viewing
platform and stargazing experience. the architect had designed a
gallery space with a shallow oval ceiling - and the vision was to bring it to life with projected content.
a friendly competitor, already appointed for the lighting design,
brought us in specifically for the projection feasibility work.
the approach
we spent six to eight weeks researching
whether the concept could work. that meant 3D modelling, projection
study software, and conversations with projector manufacturers, media
server companies, AV consultants, competitors and content designers.
all geometry was anonymised to the bare minimum needed for technical
discussions. the core problem was optical. the shallow oval ceiling created extreme
keystoning issues that made conventional projection unworkable. we
explored every alternative we could find - LED screens, flexible pixel
strips, different projector positions - looking for anything that could
deliver the architect's vision within the physical constraints of the
space.
the outcome
we delivered five or six partial solutions, plus one viable option
that required a floor-mounted structure in the gallery space. it was
technically workable but impractical for the intended use. the architect
suggested another consultant might have a solution - but nothing ever
materialised. the building was ultimately scrapped entirely. sometimes the most valuable thing a consultant can do is give an honest, well-evidenced "no" early - before
budget is committed to something that won't deliver. the depth of
research meant the client could move forward with confidence, knowing
every reasonable option had been explored. that network access -
manufacturers, competitors, content designers, AV consultants - is a
core part of what we bring to the table.