Featured project

Rugby Art Gallery and Museum asked us to design a new Roman Archaeology Gallery. It was planned to house many of the artefacts from the “Tripontium” archaeological dig that was taking place just north of the town.

The museum team wanted to use the theme of a Roman market, this would supply the backdrop that could bring to life their objects. There would be an area for dressing up and visitors would be encouraged to become part of the experience.

Rugby Art Gallery and Museum

Working with a gallery with a long, curved footprint, our role was to translate the brief into an exciting, engaging environment that could house key objects while maintaining a strong visual impact. While five showcases would house most of the artefacts, the marketplace would provide the colour, context and interest.

The exhibition introduces visitors to the Roman settlement of Tripontium through a large location map, supported by a model of one of the buildings and newly commissioned illustrations. As visitors move further on, the market environment integrates display cases, graphics and interactives, creating an immersive setting that encourages exploration and participation, particularly for school groups.

A series of low showcases were designed to present the artefacts securely while contributing to the overall narrative of the commerce and community of Roman Britain. Opposite the ‘market’, an interactive allows visitors to use a magnifying glass to examine five small artefacts. Further along, a coin display and dressing-up area conclude the displays. The result is a compact but characterful gallery that balances interpretation and functionality, demonstrating the ability to deliver effective exhibition design to a demanding timescale.

The Roman market-themed area recreates the atmosphere of a busy trading space. Objects are presented within the themed areas, combining interpretation and storytelling to create an engaging visitor experience.

Roman artefacts are presented in themed display cases with clear, accessible interpretation. A dedicated coin display highlights the collection, while a separate magnifier interactive allows visitors to examine small objects in close detail. A bespoke site model, developed from archaeological research, provides context and brings the story of Tripontium to life.

“We were asked to put together a new archaeology gallery in a very short space of time. We wanted to make sure we were showing the best of our archaeology collections from our Tripontium Roman site and also to insure we could carry on our education program. I think what Vertigo did really well is that they listened to us and they took the initial brief on board but they also went a bit further and really researched the whole market stall themed idea that we wanted to kind of encapsulate. Vertigo was able to re-create it in the space to a really high standard. One thing I really liked was the use of graffiti and Vertigo went to a lot of trouble to research Roman graffiti that had been found at various sites and added to our market place. Now that it’s finished we are really excited to open it to the public and it’s a fantastic addition to our museum.”

Catherine Shanahan, Collections Officer, Rugby Art Gallery & Museum

Rugby Art Gallery and Museum asked us to design a new Roman Archaeology Gallery. It was planned to house many of the artefacts from the “Tripontium” archaeological dig that was taking place just north of the town.

Rugby Art Gallery and Museum

Project development