Minerva

Do czego to służy

In hydrogeological emergencies, rescuing cultural assets involves trained teams and complex logistics. Yet prevention is often neglected. As floods grow more frequent, especially in fragile cities like Venice, how can we truly safeguard our artistic heritage?

Twoja inspiracja

This project stems from a growing awareness: floods, though natural, are increasingly intensified by human activity. Urbanization and impermeable surfaces block water flow, worsening extreme weather effects. Italy is highly vulnerable to hydrogeological risk (only 14% of its land is low-risk). Venice leads in exposed surface area and number of cultural assets at risk. Nationwide, 49,903 heritage sites face flood threats. Despite this, protection remains insufficient. The project was born to raise awareness and spark reflection on the urgent need to safeguard our cultural heritage.

Jak to działa

Minerva is a provocative project that delivers a clear message about the vulnerability of artworks in museums. It invites reflection on the future of fragile objects that may increasingly face the effects of climate change, especially in places like the Venetian lagoon, highly exposed to flooding. The project is a pedestal with a special feature: a lifting mechanism that lowers the artwork inside, hiding it from view. The user experiences immersive sound and augmented reality, encouraging reflection on cultural heritage management. Sensors trigger the sound of the acqua alta siren. As the artwork lowers, two flaps close and reveal a QR code. Scanning it opens an AR page, where users see the piece and hear the sound of waves. Data about at-risk artworks in Italy also appears. The featured piece is the Barovier Cup, a symbol of Venetian glassmaking’s fragility and excellence.

Proces projektowania

The Minerva project took shape through an iterative design process aimed at exploring and testing the technical and expressive possibilities of the installation. The goal was to create an object capable of effectively communicating a critical message while also offering users an engaging interactive experience. The first phase focused on conceptual design, during which the core elements of the installation were defined. Once the concept was established, the first models were created using cardboard. These were useful for studying the general shape, proportions, and mechanical movement of the upper flaps. Subsequently, a prototype was built using Forex, a more durable material suitable for testing the technical feasibility of the project on a more realistic scale. The Forex prototype enabled the integration and testing of electronic components (proximity sensors, motor, sound system), assessment of the flap closure system's effectiveness, and experimentation with the integration of the QR code and augmented reality content. This phase was crucial for addressing structural issues and improving the ergonomics of user interaction.

Jak to się różni

Minerva is a unique project that merges art, technology, and critical reflection in an immersive experience. It is not just a display stand, but a narrative device that reveals the fragility of cultural heritage in the face of climate change and hydrogeological risk. Its core lies in the symbolic gesture of making the artwork disappear during an emergency, recalling real rescue actions. This act becomes a message and a provocation. Augmented reality, triggered via QR code, lets users virtually “recover” the hidden artwork and access data on endangered cultural assets, encouraging awareness and engagement.

Plany na przyszłość

One of the main objectives is the creation of a fully functional prototype, in which all mechanical, electronic, and sound systems are perfectly integrated and reliable. Further development of the augmented reality component is planned, expanding the informational content and enhancing the visual and immersive experience. This may include creating more detailed 3D models of the artwork, animations that tell its story, and updated, interactive data on hydrogeological risks and cultural heritage preservation strategies. The goal is to make augmented reality not only an informative tool but a true narrative extension of the installation.

Nagrody