Netherlands: The World Pavilion Steyl Launches New VR Experiences Immersing Visitors into Daily Life in Ghana

The World Pavilion (Nl.: Het Wereldpaviljoen) edutainment center in Steyl (Netherlands) has expanded its cultural-themed visitor offer by the launch of three new (VR) experiences dedicated to the West African state of Ghana.

Guests can take a seat in an old bus to experience a virtual tour through Ghana, starting in the capital city of Accra and ending in Tongo village. For this virtual journey the bus’ windows were replaced by screens showing real-film images from a bus drive through the country captured by filmmaker Marijn Poels. The new visitor offer continues in the next room where guests are equipped with HTC Vive VR headsets to explore the Ghanaian village by walking around virtually.

A further experience, which was realized in cooperation with Dutch 3D artist Victor Vergoossen (BlueTea company), takes up the topic of dangerous refugee journeys: guests get in a small rubber boat and put on their VR headsets to get an impression of the life-threatening exodus from Africa to Europe. All three new visitor experiences were created in partnership with Dutch Lagotronics company, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year (read also our interview with Lagotronics’ CEO Mark Beumers in EAP 3/19).

A special feature about the latest trends in exhibition design will be provided in our next magazine issue no. 4/19, to be published on July 1st. (eap)