Centro Alqueva – Project Alqueva RE-USO

This new space is situated in the municipality of Portel, next to the Alqueva Dam. Within the Alqueva Re-Use project, Unloop has developed an approach for the exhibition program and audiovisual solutions for this project.
The primary objective of the Alqueva Re-Use project is to boost tourism and foster regional development by showcasing the story of Lake Alqueva, from the construction of the dam and its environmental and societal impacts to the implementation of sustainable practices in the present for the collective benefit in the future.
The Alqueva Center aims to become a focal point for visitors, with the ambition to double visitor numbers by 2025. The museography program offers interactive and immersive experiences, emphasizing themes such as dam construction, the regional context, production indicators, sustainability, innovation, and the future of Alqueva Region.
The exposition is connected with a coherent narrative across two floors to enhance understanding and engagement through a series of immersive and sensory experiences.

The reception area serves as the first point of interaction of the visitor and the Alqueva Center. It is designed to provide the visitor with an introduction to the space and its functionalities, providing information about the distribution of the experiences throughout the exposition area.

This room features a large extended reality model employing advanced video mapping techniques to display animated graphics, relevant information, and interactive simulations. Interactive screens enable visitors to explore diverse content autonomously, fostering an immersive educational experience.
Data distribution among the screens and model projection is designed to enhance understanding and engagement, adhering to best practices in interactive and educational museology. This setup accommodates up to 4 visitors simultaneously accessing information on the model.
Video projections on the walls present a comprehensive overview of the Alqueva region, simplifying complex data through infographics, facilitating exploration of Alqueva's dimensions and promoting awareness of water resource management and sustainable agriculture practices crucial for Alentejo Region and Portugal's future.

In the space located on the back of the stairs, is placed the installation of a hologram, aimed to introduce to the visitor the chronology of the construction of the Alqueva dam with a focus on key moments using dynamic sequences that introduce the visitor to the historical context and technological advances associated with the construction of the dam, detailed three-dimensional representations of the dam at the various stages of construction and contextual information and historical photos.

Experience a tactile and visual installation showcasing agricultural soil profiles and cross-sections of the region Alqueva, depicting various irrigation equipment already implemented and the layers composing them.
The combination of the digital with the physical experience is aimed to enable visitors to touch different soil layers while a centrally positioned screen will demonstrate information and animations related to the touched area.

The construction of the Alqueva Dam was a complex process that took over 40 years to complete and was widely covered in the media for various reasons. Likewise, the stairs were chosen as a metaphor to depict this case and all the events over the years.
After the visit through the history of Alqueva Lake and Dam construction, visitors are invited to engage in sensory and immersive experiences on the first floor.

Bats, constituting about a quarter of mammal species, have seen declining populations in recent decades, highlighting the need for conservation efforts. Monitoring at Alqueva's Artificial Shelter, conducted by ICNF with support from EDIA, revealed around 6,000 individuals from 4 species, all with concerning conservation statuses. The success of this shelter underscores its importance on a national and European scale.
Built in 1995 to mitigate the impact of the Alqueva Dam construction, the shelter once housed a colony of 5 bat species.

Likewise, Unloop created an immersive room aimed to introduce visitors to the environmental wealth of the region and sensitize them about the impacts of the dam construction, as well as climate changes of the region.
The interior of the cave is deliberately intense. Upon entering, visitors don headphones simulating connections to overhead bats, immersing them in ambisonic sounds of flapping wings and echolocation. Strategically placed air pumps simulate bats flying, enhancing the immersive experience.

The construction of the Alqueva Dam brought profound consequences for local communities and the surrounding environment. Within immersive spaces, we explore these topics with a careful and balanced approach, highlighting both positive and negative impacts on the region and its community.
This second immersive space is dedicated to the story of the Village “Luz”, one of the submerged villages after the Alqueva Dam was constructed.
This immersive video-mapping experience approaches not only the mitigation of heritage, environmental, and social impacts but also broader issues like climate change and natural disasters through the reflection of the complexity of human-environmental relationships and the resilience of affected communities.

This solution blends physical with digital experience to deepen visitors' interaction with local history, thus, aimed to educate and emotionally connect them to the museum space.
Likewise, this installation provides a small souvenir that any visitor can take home. This symbolic gesture not only increases emotional connection to the museum but also encourages sharing experiences with family and friends, amplifying the value of preserved stories.

MECHANICS:
1. Read your ticket using a barcode reader.
2. It will be printed a statement of one of the personas represented on the wall installation.
3. This testimony serves as a souvenir that you can keep as a reminder of the visit to the Alqueva Center.
4. This solution is developed to provide a variety of narratives in different languages synchronized with a game of lights of the installation, lighting up a lightbox with a personality that gave testimony.

Central Box is another immersive space aimed at taking visitors on a journey by the Alqueva Region.
Inside of the Central Box a peaceful environment replicating Alqueva's starry sky, motivating the contemplation experience. A water mirror mimics the vast lake, enhancing the connection to the landscape. Carefully selected ambient sounds enrich the experience. Interactivity is key, with a camera system projecting dynamic effects on the floor.

On the outside of the Central Box, visitors are invited to engage in sensory experiences, with the possibility of discovering how the skin of a bat is on the touch or how local flowers smell.
This interactive exposition highlights tourist activities, local flora, and fauna, as well as climate issues. Special attention is given to the Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, promoting awareness of light pollution's impact. This holistic approach fosters a deeper understanding of Alqueva's natural beauty, economic development, and environmental challenges, encouraging sustainable tourism and appreciation for the region's uniqueness.

Room of Light is aimed to feature EDIA projects and invite visitors to explore the region's diverse tourism opportunities, as well as educate about environmental conservation and water's importance, fostering awareness of environmental issues and sustainable water management.
One of the artistic installation present in the Room of Light represents a three-dimensional model of Linaria Ricardoi, one of the species preserved within EDIA's commitment.

Installation is made of inflatable materials and recycled plastics will be programmed to receive data on wind speed and direction in real-time, adjusting its movements in response to this information, thus highlighting the interaction between technology and the environment.
These initiatives align with EDIA's mission to promote environmental awareness and conservation efforts, emphasizing the significance of biodiversity and water resources for local communities and the global ecosystem.

The logo design draws inspiration from the Alqueva Center's architectural form, using geometric shapes like circles and rectangles to capture its distinct geometric essence.
Through the shapes we transmit the depth of the Alqueva lake and mimic the rippling effect of water when a drop falls, representing the Alqueva environment.
The color palette reflects the region's natural beauty, with shades of blue from the tranquil waters, golden hues from rural landscapes, and traditional architectural tones of the region.
Materials like cork evoke ecological harmony, offering a tactile and eco-friendly aesthetic. Marble travertine adds timeless elegance and sophistication, creating a balanced fusion of textures and tones for a cohesive and visually pleasing ambiance. This thoughtful combination blends functionality with aesthetics, resulting in an inviting, elegant, and enduring environment that reflects the essence of Alqueva.

CONCEPT & CREATIVE DIRECTION – Helder da Rocha Pereira
ART DIRECTION – Arina Zhumasheva
3D PRODUCTION – Aleksei Kurilov
DESIGN – Arina Zhumasheva, Telma Santana, Rita Miranda