TUNNEL

The research, design development and final outcome of the tunnel is my 20-credit module. Pages 33-40 of my portfolio show the final outcome of the tunnel, supported by the 20-credit journal which I have also uploaded.

The tunnel connects the two Rotundas, providing an interesting and unique journey for visitors.

Using sound and lighting, it is a dynamic, immersive experience, building anticipation for the film. The experience is tailored to the film currently being shown in the South Rotunda’s cinema, and therefore provides a different journey for every visit.

The user journey through the North Rotunda, Tunnel and South Rotunda is designed to reflect the classic story structure - beginning in the known world, where a discovery sets the character off on an adventure into a new, unknown world. The Tunnel represents the journey into the new world.

The journey to the tunnel is hidden and secretive, therefore in the North Rotunda, the staircase to the tunnel is narrower and the tunnel base is slightly darker than the South.

The tunnel has been split into three sections, with removable curtains dividing the spaces. To make the journey more interesting for visitors, the journey towards the South Rotunda differs from the journey back to the North. The curtains are removed, allowing visitors a view along the entire length of the tunnel. The tunnel operates on a rotating basis, with travel switching directions every fifteen minutes.

Spotlights and projectors are installed in the centre of the ceiling rafters along the length of the tunnel, as well as strip lights which feature along the sides at the top and bottom of the tunnel. This allows for the space to be flexible so that the tunnel experience can change regularly.

To create a fully immersive experience, the existing 1-metrewide water mains pipe has been removed and relocated.

The photobooth marks the beginning of the tunnel experience. Curious visitors of the film museum enter the photobooth only to find a whole new experience hidden beyond.

Those who are already aware of the tunnel and hidden cinema are able to access the tunnel directly by pressing the hidden button in the lift, or continuing down the stairs from the cafe-bar, through the museum basement.

Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, visitors are welcomed to the tunnel with a short film projected onto the wall, leading them around the corridor to the box office. Seating at the base of the tunnel allows space to rest before and after ascending or descending the stairs.

The box office is located at the mouth of the tunnel, where visitors can purchase tickets for the cinema, hire out film booths and find out more about the current tunnel experience.

The tunnel experience is ever-changing, dependant on the film currently being shown in the South Rotunda. The following journey is an example of the experience if a horror film was being shown in the cinema.

The first of the three sections begins the tunnel experience by introducing the story.

Visitors make their way into the tunnel, where they hear a car’s engine start as spotlights begin moving around the space like car headlights. As the sounds build and headlights shine, a radio sounds informing the audience that a suspected killer is on the loose. As spotlights motion-track the audience, the radio begins to cut out, and eventually the spotlights angle to cast long shadows down the tunnel.

“There is a killer on the loose!”

The second section draws the audience further into the story, building up towards the experience’s climax in the third act.

Upon entering this section, visitors are met with plastic sheets, which hang from the ceiling, obscuring their view along the tunnel. Fans and spotlights in the ceiling softly move the sheets, casting shadows through the tunnel. Rain and wind sounds play as visitors make their way through the space, and softly flashing lighting creates a tense atmosphere.

“The killer is among us!”

The last section brings the story to a climax and concludes the tunnel experience.

Low lighting occasionally flickers and the sound of chains clinking can be heard as visitors enter the space. Visitors can see the end of the tunnel, until suddenly the lights go out and they are plunged into darkness. The chains softly clink until there is a loud screeching noise - a monster! Lights then turn on one-by-one from the end of the tunnel towards the visitors, as they hear monster footsteps approaching and passing them by.

“It turns out the killer isn’t human at all, and it is in the room with us now!”

Once the tunnel experience is over, visitors enter the base of the South Rotunda. The North tunnel base is closed off and secretive, building anticipation for the tunnel. In contrast, the South tunnel base is open and bright, with stairs rising up around the edges of the building, emphasising the vastness of the space.

The space allows visitors to decompress after the tunnel experience and builds up further anticipation for entering the South Rotunda.

The South tunnel base is a bright space of dramatic proportions. Stairs wind around the outside of the space, leaving a large void in the centre which contrasts with the much narrower tunnel.

A viewing platform allows lift and stair users to pause halfway up to rest and appreciate the view. Projections on the exterior wall explain the history of the Rotundas and Tunnel.

The journey back through the tunnel, heading towards the North Rotunda, creates a different experience for visitors. A clear view along the tunnel allows visitors to get a better sense of the dramatic space, and projections on the walls replay exciting moments from films of the past, alongside trailers for future films playing in the cinema.

https://youtu.be/C-8D_sJq1f0

Scan this QR code to watch a film showcasing the Tunnel Horror Experience