Boreal Mural
Sculptural immersion and interactive exploration
Challenges
The cadabra mandate was to help the Zoo Sauvage de St-Félicien finetune their tourism offer, defining and highlighting the many attractions of the region for visitors.
Approach
The cadabra team suggested an immersive sculptural approach, creating a playful, modern presence and dynamic screenless mural to deliver an experience steeped in authenticity. The interactive topographical map, designed to resonate harmoniously with the surroundings, presents visiting families and the general public alike with a super-sized view of the area, highlighting the major waterways in shades of blue. The materials were chosen to reflect timeless durability, with wood panels used to craft a highly abstract and representative structure. The effect is a mural that showcases the natural characteristics of the region and mirrors the local conservation ideals.
Located in the Zoo sauvage de St-Félicien Visitors Centre, the enormous sculptural surface is an experience unto itself. Divided into two sections, one interactive and one participatory, the mural gives visitors a one-of-a-kind way to discover the attractions of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and learn about some of the animals of the boreal.
In section one, visitors can explore the mural and learn about the region by touching thematic cubes attached to the section handrail. Motorised blocks slide along the topographical map, revealing tourist highlights and points of interest.
In section two, the handrail modules offer a whimsical set of educational games arranged at just the right height for interactivity with children. The moveable wooden blocks are printed with drawings that reflect the beauty of the boreal and other northern regions around the world.
Collaborating under the creative direction of cadabra, our partners Collective Lab (fabrication) and Rümker (design) each contributed greatly to the project. The mural was built with local wood to show the natural features of the region and give the installation a contemporary, pure appeal.
