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 entrance and retail arrangement welcomes visitors from the public piazza into the building. The spiral access stair and lift shaft core draw the eye upwards. 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 contemplative space, observing the Earth or ‘Gaia’ rotating installation above them. This is followed by an animated 360° AV experience focussing on Dundee in the year 1901 - the year RRS Discovery was launched. Acclaimed actor Alan Cumming narrates a historical tale of innovation, bravery and Discovery, characteristics that are now vital in tackling climate catastrophe. A controlled palette of Antarctic whites and blues is applied consistently throughout the design: from the entrance floor and ceiling finishes; to the angular iceberg-influenced retail and reception desks; to the spiral stair and lift shaft that tower within the main dome space. The rooftop Dome Gallery is delicately pinned to the surrounding dome floating delightfully free of other structural connections allowing glimpses of the 360° glazing and domed ceiling above. The bespoke lighting design includes ice core drops leading the visitor to the reception point. The spiral stair is formed from 6mm curved sheet steel with Krion solid surface blue interior. Hidden cobalt blue washes chromatically matched to the stair treads add to the icy luminescence of the stairs. Elsewhere target lighting and video projection combine to create a dramatic space and memorable story.