As heritage institutions worldwide look to reinvigorate attendance and diversify revenue streams, the AURA series of permanent, site-specific multimedia experiences has established itself as a proven solution for renewing public engagement with historic sites. Developed over nine years by leading global entertainment studio Moment Factory, the series orchestrates lighting, music, and projection mapping to reveal the architectural wonders and layered histories of heritage sites, so far including four marquee locations: Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica, Paris’s Dôme des Invalides, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, and most recently, Quebec City’s Saint-Roch Church.
These immersive experiences breathe new life into heritage sites after dark, transforming their indoor spaces by illuminating centuries of tradition, artistry, and craftsmanship in new and unexpected ways. With precise, pixel-by-pixel projection mapping, AURA experiences accentuate architectural details that often go overlooked — or can be difficult to discern — in daylight, such as the curvature of vaulted ceilings or the texture of stone columns. Together with an accompanying original orchestral score that flows through the site in sync with the visuals, audiences are drawn into an emotional expression of a site’s genius loci — spirit of place where the architecture becomes an integral part of the narrative, evolving as a character within the show itself.
Unlike temporary light shows, AURA experiences are designed in close collaboration with each site and its stewards to meet rigorous conservation standards with an eye to longevity. Technical equipment is thoughtfully, almost imperceptibly, integrated, often concealed in housing finished to match the venue’s existing materials and structural elements. The result is a permanent installation that not only respects the integrity of the site, but lets technology recede into the background so that visitors can be fully absorbed in its breathtaking beauty.
“AURA is a revelation and a sharing of a common heritage, with the widest audience possible,” explains Father Julien Guillot, Parish Priest of the Limoilou Parishes. “AURA is an addition to our offering to ensure the permanence of the St-Roch Church and preserve it for the long term.”
Executing each AURA experience begins with an extensive 3D scanning process, using drone photogrammetry to create a precise digital model of the site. The model allows for projection mapping that’s configured to the space’s exact dimensions, so that visuals can seamlessly align to sharpen — rather than distract from — the audience’s experience of it. Equal care and specificity is needed to define the unique acoustic profile of each space, so that a musical score can be tailored to it.
“Heritage architecture demands precision, care, respect, and the capacity to adapt to unique preservation frameworks,” says Patricia Ruel, Creative Director of AURA at Moment Factory. “Each site becomes our starting point and greatest source of inspiration, with its rich architecture, history, culture, and community guiding every creative decision, allowing new and returning visitors to rediscover it, while preserving its integrity and original purpose.”
Photography courtesy Moment Factory.
Like what you see? Get it first with a subscription to aspire design and home magazine.