Übersee-Museum Bremen

The Übersee-Museum combines a collection of ethnology, trade and natural history that is unique in Europe into a unified experience. The exhibition elegantly tells the story of Oceania’s people through objects and narratives.

Client:

Übersee Museum Bremen

Name of the exhibition: 

Der Blaue Kontinent – Inseln im Pazifik

Location:

Bremen, Germany

Exhibition area:

2500 m²

Year:

2025

Scope of work:

Technical design, development, engineering, production, installation and project management.

Interior architecture:

Casson Mann London office

Photography:

Volker Beinhorn

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About

For over 125 years, the Übersee-Museum has brought “the world under one roof.” Combining ethnology, trade, and natural history in a way unique in Europe, it offers immersive journeys to distant continents with cultural treasures, life-like animal dioramas, and interactive stations for all ages. Special exhibitions, diverse programs, and international recognition make the museum a place of discovery, learning, and inspiration.

History

Founded in 1896, the Übersee-Museum Bremen was created under the vision of zoologist Hugo Schauinsland, who sought to present “the world under one umbrella.” Despite wartime destruction, the museum was rebuilt and has since grown into one of Bremen’s leading cultural institutions. With more than 1.2 million objects, it continues to connect nature, culture, and trade through inspiring exhibitions on Oceania, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Highlight

The renovation involved large-scale production and fit-out of custom-made furniture across Oceania Gallery in Bremen Übersee Museum, in strict accordance with the specifications of the exhibition designers and the client. The project included a broad range of bespoke solutions, such as:

  • Over 20 large scale vitrines for housing artefacts and elements from Oceania
  • Over 12 soft seating areas for visitors to sit and relax and discuss about the exhibition
  • 5 hands-on stations with manual and digital interactions
  • Over 20 furniture elements to house dioramas, place artefacts or media stations 
  • Special Sugar Palm Veneer, that was delivered from US to Europe in order to add Oceania Touch to furniture elements.

Highlight for us in this project was unique display cases and surface finishes, including one-of-a-kind coconut-shaped showcases.

Insights

Übersee Museum receives approximately 300 000 visitors annually, requiring furniture of high durability suitable for intensive public use.

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