Discovery Point Dome Gallery

Discovery Point, home to RRS Discovery, is an award-winning visitor attraction that tells the story of the iconic ship ‘Discovery’ from her beginnings in Dundee, her amazing Antarctic expedition with Captain Scott and her voyages and uses thereafter. Aim Design were commissioned to deliver the architectural and interior design including graphical interpretation and creative direction for an immersive Dome Gallery Experience. This included the creation of a refurbished entrance and reception area and a new vertical circulation core concluding with high level 360° viewing and media platform. A new spiral access stair and lift shaft core provide a dramatic journey up through the building. These bold design elements sculpturally pay homage to scientific ice coring drills. The lift shaft face captures an illuminated and continuous snapshot of an ice core previously analysed by climate change scientists to help develop our understanding of global atmospheric change. On reaching the Dome Gallery, visitors are slowly settled into a darkened space by observing the Earth or ‘Gaia’ rotating art installation above them. The art installation and audio recording by internationally renowned artist Luke Jerram was integrated into the overall show score and narration. Eight blackout projection screens fully enclose the space to create a 360° starfield sky. The animated video, musical score and narration recreate the emotions and experiences first described by astronauts when viewing the earth from space. The narrative develops into an urgent call to action to avert climate catastrophe. The enveloping projection screens change, and take the audience through the Earth’s atmosphere to reveal a 3D modelled Dundee carefully reconstructed from the year 1901 - the year RRS Discovery was launched. Chimneys belch smoke into the sky. Accurately historically mapped and detailed, the 1901 model of the city is projected to align with the view of modern Dundee. Acclaimed actor Alan Cumming narrates a historical tale of innovation, bravery and Discovery, characteristics that will be vital in tackling climate catastrophe. The experience concludes with the raising of the projection screens to reveal a 360° view of 21st century Dundee, framing unprecedented views over a modern Dundee, the River Tay and Discovery Point’s star attraction, RRS Discovery. The audience is left to dwell on a view of the city that has never been seen before and a contrasting tale of a city 120 years apart that is both compelling and deeply nostalgic.