German Customs Museum – New Permanent Exhibition
After the huge success of the 2006 special exhibition on customs at sea, Triad Berlin started re-designing the 800 sqm permanent exhibition space. In close cooperation with the German Customs Museum’s team, the exhibition’s content was extended, re-structured and scenographically re-designed. In addition, Triad created and produced films, audio books and interactive media, which inform 110,000 annual visitors about the history of customs.
Design of the Exhibition
The newly designed German Customs Museum addresses various target groups. For customs officers, it is a place of identification, while hosting a variety of experiences for the public. The first floor brings German history back to life; with the help of customs stories. On ground floor level, the visitor gets an idea of the broad range of the customs’ tasks today. On the whole, the museum presents itself in its variety as the Federal Customs Administration’s centre of competence.
Subjects
The new exhibition examines customs in the context of culture and society. For this, Triad developed new theme worlds in cooperation with the museum’s team and expert advisers. Visitors can travel through the history of customs or discover the manifold of operational areas of customs: from securing international trade to the protection of species and consumers to the fight against illegal employment.
Exhibits
The German Customs Museum owns an extensive collection of exhibits including documents, objects and images. Triad’s exhibit legends, quotes and productions create the context for the objects to tell their respective stories and unfold their aura. The historical department contains some 180 exhibits, the area of today’s customs some 270 exhibits.
Media and Interaction
Reproductions of former and current customs regulation caps serve as audio stations. Under the roof of five oversized caps, visitors can listen to anecdotes and audio books of literature and the daily routine in customs. Six cinematic stations show historic images or extend selected subjects, such as the training of sniffer dogs. Moreover, 13 interactive exhibits were designed for the new exhibition so the visitors can experience and feel the history and presence of customs.
Scenography
Triad designed a scenography which was subject-oriented as well as visitor-oriented in order to have guided as well as independent tours of the museum. Clear hierarchies of design and graphics form a guidance system which makes intuitive tours possible. The production of specific points of contact introduces the subject areas, stage settings and installations illustrate the main topics. A contextual volume describes the interplay of customs with the economy, politics and the arts.
Project map
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