Eco Future uses games to promote virtual decision making about real-world issues
reated to increase awareness of depleting global resources, climate change, over-consumption, sedentary lifestyles and sustainability options, Eco Future is a year-long, educational, family-orientated exhibition which gives visitors a glimpse into sustainable lifestyles.
Held at The Manarat Al Saadiyat on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, four interactive, futuristic characters – Ali, Moza, Yas and Sara – take visitors through six zones: Drinking; Eating, Enjoying; Moving; Building; and Future City.
Partially modelled on the Emirate’s own long-term sustainability plans, the 900sq m (10,000sq ft) exhibit features a series of games that promote virtual decision-making about real-world issues. These issues include green building, healthy living, and moderate water and energy consumption.
Design solutions are collated on personalised eco tags, which reveal to visitors at the end of the exhibition their own Future City. Children aged between eight- and 12-years-old are given a card with an embedded microchip at the start of the exhibit. They then visit each of the games, which encourage them to make decisions, such as what kind of materials to use for building and what meals to choose based on their sustainability.
At the end of the exhibit, which takes approximately 45 minutes to complete, the children receive a green score card, which helps them to realise that what may appear to be healthy or sustainable, might not actually be.
Opened in October 2012, Science & Media LLP delivered the exhibition to Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) in Abu Dhabi and Hypsos in Dubai executed the design.
“The design is created in a cartoon-style to appeal to the younger audience, but educational elements are a significant part of the exhibition,” says Jan Muller, general manager at Hypsos in Dubai. “Interactivity is widely spread throughout the exhibition so that visitors can really take part. “As well as the funny characters, there’s a lot of in-depth information and visitors can raise questions, so older guests enjoy the experience too.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2013 issue 1
Editor's letter: VISAS – Not sexy, but vital
Of the 656 million tourists who visited G20 countries in 2011,
110 million needed a visa, but millions more were deterred
from travelling by the cost and difficulty of obtaining one
Profile: Sim Choo Kheng
The creator of Escape, Malaysia's new,
sustainable theme park, describes how
his free range childhood and a desire
to coax Asian children away from their
computers inspired the park's ethos
Heritage: Points of view
Egypt's Giza pyramids have been
brought to life by a 3D project, which
enables them to be shared worldwide
while protecting their heritage
Top team: Play and display
Contemporary art is used to encourage
children's interest and participation in art
as well as making them better citizens at
the New Children's Museum in San Diego
New opening: High life
At 310m, The View From The Shard is
Europe's tallest viewing platform as well
as being London's latest landmark. CE
Anders Nyberg describes the project
Eco Future uses games to promote virtual decision making about real-world issues
reated to increase awareness of depleting global resources, climate change, over-consumption, sedentary lifestyles and sustainability options, Eco Future is a year-long, educational, family-orientated exhibition which gives visitors a glimpse into sustainable lifestyles.
Held at The Manarat Al Saadiyat on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, four interactive, futuristic characters – Ali, Moza, Yas and Sara – take visitors through six zones: Drinking; Eating, Enjoying; Moving; Building; and Future City.
Partially modelled on the Emirate’s own long-term sustainability plans, the 900sq m (10,000sq ft) exhibit features a series of games that promote virtual decision-making about real-world issues. These issues include green building, healthy living, and moderate water and energy consumption.
Design solutions are collated on personalised eco tags, which reveal to visitors at the end of the exhibition their own Future City. Children aged between eight- and 12-years-old are given a card with an embedded microchip at the start of the exhibit. They then visit each of the games, which encourage them to make decisions, such as what kind of materials to use for building and what meals to choose based on their sustainability.
At the end of the exhibit, which takes approximately 45 minutes to complete, the children receive a green score card, which helps them to realise that what may appear to be healthy or sustainable, might not actually be.
Opened in October 2012, Science & Media LLP delivered the exhibition to Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) in Abu Dhabi and Hypsos in Dubai executed the design.
“The design is created in a cartoon-style to appeal to the younger audience, but educational elements are a significant part of the exhibition,” says Jan Muller, general manager at Hypsos in Dubai. “Interactivity is widely spread throughout the exhibition so that visitors can really take part. “As well as the funny characters, there’s a lot of in-depth information and visitors can raise questions, so older guests enjoy the experience too.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2013 issue 1
Editor's letter: VISAS – Not sexy, but vital
Of the 656 million tourists who visited G20 countries in 2011,
110 million needed a visa, but millions more were deterred
from travelling by the cost and difficulty of obtaining one
Profile: Sim Choo Kheng
The creator of Escape, Malaysia's new,
sustainable theme park, describes how
his free range childhood and a desire
to coax Asian children away from their
computers inspired the park's ethos
Heritage: Points of view
Egypt's Giza pyramids have been
brought to life by a 3D project, which
enables them to be shared worldwide
while protecting their heritage
Top team: Play and display
Contemporary art is used to encourage
children's interest and participation in art
as well as making them better citizens at
the New Children's Museum in San Diego
New opening: High life
At 310m, The View From The Shard is
Europe's tallest viewing platform as well
as being London's latest landmark. CE
Anders Nyberg describes the project
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
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