Hurrairah bin Sohail explores how technology played a critical role in creating the visitor journey at Singapore Odyssea, National Museum of Singapore.
Opened in August 2025 as part of Singapore’s SG60 celebrations, Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time at the National Museum of Singapore is a landmark permanent multimedia showcase inviting visitors on an immersive journey through the nation’s maritime and national history.
The installation charts a 700-year narrative, guiding visitors down a spiralling path through time, combining storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual integration to create both educational and emotional impact.
The project was delivered by a consortium of Kin Productions (consortium lead), GSM Project (experience design), and Electronics & Engineering (E&E), the technology integrator. E&E handled the project as a comprehensive design-and-build, collaborating closely with creative and content teams to ensure seamless integration between narrative and technology.
The installation is structured around a core concept: beginning in the present with a glimpse into the near future. This design not only supports a chronological narrative but also shapes the visitor journey, using visual and interactive cues to guide the flow of movement through the space. Building on data gathered from the previous iteration of the exhibit, E&E focused on optimising visitor circulation. Analysis revealed that certain areas experienced bottlenecks while others were under-engaged. In response, the spatial and technological design was refined to subtly control dwell times, encouraging visitors to move along while engaging meaningfully with key content points.
A central component of this strategy is the use of BLE-enabled wristbands. Upon entry, visitors select one of three wristbands, each linked to a unique animal companion representing land, sea, or air. These wristbands not only unlock personalised content but also serve to reinforce a steady and natural flow through the space. Interactive stations and display arrangements were carefully positioned to create intuitive “prompts”, subtly encouraging visitors to continue exploring. Display technology was a foundational element of the project, developed in close collaboration between E&E, Kin Productions, GSM Project, and the museum team. From the early conceptual stages, the content and technology development ran in parallel, ensuring a seamless fusion of creative vision and technical execution.
By participating in initial design discussions, E&E was able to anticipate the demands of the final content and narrow down technology options well in advance. This proactive involvement eliminated the risk of last-minute mismatches between creative direction and available solutions. Whether the content evolved in one direction or another, the technology roadmap had been designed with flexibility in mind, with tested alternatives ready to support different outcomes.
The visual journey begins with a 6m by 1.5m Leyard LED videowall delivering a short cinematic introduction. This leads to a dramatic centrepiece: a 2.5m spherical LED globe displaying animated trade routes that Singapore has been part of throughout its history. Below the globe, strategically placed stainless steel mirrors extend the illusion into infinity, enhancing immersion. As the first spherical LED installation of its kind in Singapore, its execution demanded meticulous planning. The globe, assembled from modular sections due to shipping constraints, was developed in collaboration with Leyard to ensure accurate curvature and visual consistency.
As visitors descend the installation’s spiral rampway, they encounter a range of high-impact visual elements. Spiral projections guide them through the corridor, culminating in a large 360-degree immersive ‘drum’ area. Here, projection blends with an interactive LED floor; another key visual highlight.
Selecting the right technology for these LED components was critical, particularly for the floor, which required both durability and responsive interactivity. A hands-on evaluation process was undertaken, including on-site testing with multiple vendors. Ultimately, Leyard was selected for its superior response time and performance in real-world conditions.
Throughout the experience, projection remains the preferred medium for irregular surfaces. A total of 58 Digital Projection units were deployed, selected for their DLP technology and proven reliability in mission-critical environments such as simulators and command centres. These projectors are used to display high-resolution visuals across surfaces ranging from 3.5m to 6m in height, delivering a mix of contemporary and historical Singaporean scenes.
Maintaining precise projection alignment in a high-traffic, multi-level environment presented a unique challenge. As visitors move through the space, subtle vibrations travel through the concrete structure, gradually shifting projector positions and affecting image consistency over time. To ensure the projection system remained consistently aligned and operating at peak performance, E&E implemented Vioso’s camera-based calibration platform.
The decision to use Vioso was informed by E&E’s prior experience with projector behaviour in similar environments, where foot traffic and structural vibrations can gradually affect image alignment. In response, Vioso allocated team members from both its Germany and India offices to collaborate on-site with the E&E team.
This partnership enabled the development of a remote recalibration workflow using integrated cameras and Vioso’s proprietary software platform. Trond Solvold from Vioso gives his insight: “When you have 100 visitors walking down the corridor, everything moves. The vibrations travel through the concrete and the structure and will over time change the alignment of the projectors. This means that the image does not have the same perfect quality as when it was installed. To rectify this, the integrator has to come in and manually do the recalibration and at the National Museum of Singapore this would be quite frequent.”
Solvold continues and elaborates on how Vioso solved the issues: “The beauty of the Vioso system is that we have 30 cameras covering the display areas. Through these cameras, the technicians can easily recalibrate the projected area with pixel accuracy. The process is automated, reducing the time and complexity to a minimum all of which ensures a great visual experience. The process can even take place from a centralised location, eliminating the need to go down to the specific area where you want to readjust the total scene.”
Audio design was equally considered. The exhibit features JBL loudspeakers supported by Crown amplifiers and Q-SYS DSP. In the spiralling corridor, JBL HST models were selected for their 180-degree coverage and minimal audio spill, ideal for navigating varied lines of sight. Inside the drum area, JBL CBT speakers were used to meet tight installation constraints while maintaining clarity and presence.
At the heart of show control is a suite of customised Dataton servers, chosen for their ability to handle content created in Unreal Engine. The high processing demands of this real-time engine necessitated a robust system far beyond standard off-the-shelf solutions.
Time constraints added further complexity to the project, with several content and design elements introduced late in the timeline. However, close coordination among stakeholders, particularly the early involvement of the technology team, ensured challenges were addressed collaboratively and deadlines were met.
The visitor journey concludes with a 20m by 3m LED videowall where guests can tap their wristbands to trigger a personalised multimedia finale, a symbolic culmination of their time-travel experience through Singapore’s storied past. The result is a dynamic installation that not only enriches the National Museum’s narrative but also elevates visitor engagement through smart use of AV and spatial design. With every element; from BLE-guided journeys to remote-calibrated projections, Singapore Odyssea stands as a benchmark for experiential museum design, one built to endure and evolve over time.
Singapore Odyssea is a compelling example of how audiovisual integration and storytelling can converge to create an experience that is both informative and inspiring. Chung May Khuen, director of the National Museum of Singapore, comments: “Singapore Odyssea pushes the boundaries of a conventional museum-going experience by blending history, art and technology for a creative storytelling approach that inspires and captures the imagination of our visitors.”
Chan Yew Tong, director of Kin, shares: “Singapore Odyssea’s success was due to the aligned focus and mutual trust relationship the consortium partners and client have with each other.”
Melissa Chan, associate creative director at GSM Project, details: “Transformation begins where imagination meets courage. Singapore Odyssea stands as a testament to what’s possible when bold creative vision meets trust. With partners like E&E and Kin Productions who share our pursuit of excellence, we collaborate openly and fearlessly, driving every idea to its highest potential.”
Gary Goh, CEO of Electronics & Engineering, concludes: “Singapore Odyssea demonstrates how intelligent AV design and data-driven integration can elevate storytelling. Working closely with our partners, we aligned technology and creativity from the outset to deliver an immersive, future-ready experience built to evolve over time.”