As leaders across business, creativity, and entertainment gather in the capital for SXSW London – the first time it hits the city – we’ve prepared a guide of the best multidimensional experiences in London from the Journey studios.
Lightroom London, King’s Cross
A 360 degree canvas for immersive storytelling, Lightroom fuels the creation of worlds from sound, motion and light. Lightroom is a joint venture between Journey studio 59 and London Theatre Company, that combines the scale and spectacle of immersive experiences with a focus on new forms of storytelling – in collaboration with some of the world’s greatest artists, thinkers, creatives and innovators. Current shows include Vogue: Inventing the Runway, David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (Not Smaller & Further Away), and The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks and Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs – coming soon.
The British Museum, Bloomsbury
The British Museum contains the largest permanent collection, not just in London, but the world – charting two million years of human history and culture. Journey recently reimagined how museum goers experience a series of incomparable artifacts: the Vindolanda Tablets in the Roman Britain Galleries and the Lion Hunt Reliefs of Ashurbanipal in the Assyrian Galleries. We translated these stories into captivating immersive experiences as part of a pilot project for future museum experiences at the museum.
Lift 109 Experience at Battersea Powerstation, Battersea
Battersea Power Station is an icon of the London cityscape on the south bank of the Thames. Once responsible for powering a fifth of London, and since sitting derelict for decades, it is now open to the public as one of London’s most innovative new destinations to eat, drink, shop and play. Together with some of the world’s foremost architects and exhibition designers, Journey created a welcome experience at the Lift 109 Experience that serves as the perfect prequel to the views awaiting guests atop the station’s chimney observation deck – featuring dynamic animations, interactive tables, immersive media and soundscapes.
F1 DRIVE – London, Tottenham
F1 DRIVE – London is the capital’s latest thrill seeking experience. Situated beneath the iconic South Stand of Tottenham Hotspur’s football stadium, the largest club stadium in London, F1 DRIVE – London invites you to take the wheel and race bespoke F1-inspired karts. With DRS technology, engine sounds, and an 18cm LED steering wheel display, experience Journey designed touch points across an exciting track layout.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow at The Phoenix Theatre, West End
Head to ‘The Upside Down’ via London’s West End, and experience Stranger Things on stage, brought to life by a multi-award-winning creative team, including Journey studio 59 who crafted a world of breathtaking video and visual effects. The Olivier award-winning theatrical experience brings together digital and traditional theatrical techniques to create a rich, absorbing, surprising world — and in the process, pushes the outer boundaries of theatre craft.
Illuminated River, across Central London
Illuminated River is a cohesive lighting vision for the Thames bridges in central London, celebrating the structures as architectural, social and historical landmarks, and creating a symbolic link across the political, financial and cultural centres of the capital. At 3.2 miles in length, Illuminated River is the longest public art commission in the world, spanning from London Bridge in the east to Lambeth Bridge in the west.
Journey studio VMI designed lighting elements and pioneered 3D modeling techniques for these dynamic light installations, capturing the vibrant interplay of colour and movement – further enhancing the narrative through an app that offers background stories and insights into the artwork.
The Jewel House exhibition at The Tower of London, Tower Hamlets
What’s more British than glimpsing The Crown Jewels at The Tower of London? The exhibition was completely re-vitalised as part of the first major change to The Jewel House for over a decade, providing a shoulder experience to the adjacent Treasury and a seamless visitor journey throughout. Immersive media by Journey studio Squint/Opera provides multidimensional historical references to the five key narratives around the Crown Jewels, grounding the narrative and creating a powerful contrast with the actual objects’ presence.
Here East, Hackney Wick
Here East is an innovation and technology campus situated in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, adjacent to East London’s River Lee. The former Olympic Media Centre was left in the wake of the 2012 Games, and in 2014 was reinvented to house a vibrant mix of innovators, visionaries and like-minded locals. With a rich story to tell, we created a digital twin of the campus to communicate the history, impact and future vision of this unique hub. Campus highlights now include locally-owned coffee shops, eateries, spa and even a retro video-game bar.
The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Uncover the tales of pirates, explorers and voyages of discovery at the National Maritime Museum. Our series of immersive exhibitions put you at the helm of the Endeavour Galleries – part of a multi-million pound investment in the Museum. We bring historical information to life using old maps, maritime charts, drawings and paintings, amongst interactives and installations to capture your attention and engage your imagination. And don’t just take our word for it, British royalty Sir David Attenborough said: “The new galleries are absolutely fabulous. These galleries are very, very different… They engage you in a way that I think you’ll find extraordinary.”
The Holocaust Galleries at The Imperial War Museum, Lambeth
Journey studio Squint/Opera were given the sensitive task of taking a dark episode of human history and communicating it in an engaging and accessible way. The Holocaust Galleries at The Imperial War Museum present powerful human stories, challenging the way we understand and learn from our past. Across 11 galleries, we created digital exhibits, video installations, films and motion graphics, to share the complex narrative of the Holocaust with a new generation of museum visitors.
Fleet Street Quarter, City of London
The Fleet Street Quarter is an area of immense history and innovation, extending from St Paul’s Cathedral in the east, to the Royal Courts of Justice in the west, and up towards Holborn and Chancery Lane in the north. Explore its imminent transformation on a walking route covering upcoming developments and public realm updates amongst the rich architectural history of the area, in an app created by Journey studio VMI.
LFA Studio Late, Hackney
And if time isn’t on your side, why not pop by Journey studio Squint/Opera’s canal-side home to experience some snippets of our multidimensional work across the globe at a Studio Late. On 19 June we’re throwing open the doors as part of the London Festival of Architecture, inviting Londoners and visitors alike to learn more about us and meet the team in person.