OM Science Centre‘s bicultural view

Otago Museum marketing manager Charlotte Neilson experiences an ‘‘Infinity Room’’ created as part of the museum’s $2.5 million science centre redevelopment. Photo: Peter McIntosh.

John Gibb, ‘Infinity room’ to open at museum, Otago Daily Times, 2 December 2017

An “infinity room” called “The Void” is one of the striking features of the Otago Museum’s redeveloped science centre, which opens to the public  this month.

The room, with its many mirrors, can be plunged into darkness and then progressively filled with a mass of small, bright lights, giving an impression of vast spaces.

These views also open out into a vision of the creation of the universe.

The Tuhura Otago Community Trust Science Centre, supported by a $500,000 grant from the trust,  is due to reopen  on December 16.

The room’s interior was designed and constructed by Auckland  studio Angus Muir Design, which also provided the lighting and sound.

Dunedin firm  Miller Creative Group built the room’s external cladding.

The sound show reflects the “big bang theory” for the origin of the universe and the Maori concept of Te Kore, the idea of “nothingness”, from which comes life.

Museum director Dr Ian Griffin said the room also reflected the science centre’s bicultural approach, including Maori perspectives and traditional knowledge.

After four years of planning and five months of construction, the overall redevelopment includes more than 45 new hands-on science interactives and a refreshed Tropical Forest butterfly house.