Universeum is a science center with focus on natural science, where Reptilarium exhibits the most venomous snakes and lizards in the world. Throughout human history reptiles holds a key role in our shared stories and myths. From creation stories to death metal posters.
Faced with the task of designing Reptilarium, CaseStudio questioned the idea of exhibiting wildlife. Nature is not a neutral situation which could be isolated and put on a stage. Wildlife in an exhibition is nature as perceived by humans as cultural beings. Working with the exhibition CaseStudio repeatedly met with the snake keepers and carefully studied the natural settings of each snake from photos and videos. We then created our own perspective, our gaze on their nature explicit by drawing their world by hand, for hours and hours.
These drawings act as the necessary line between the guests and the deadly reptiles allowing the visitor to experience and learn - and each reptile to live in a carefully balanced climate. Each snake is framed with linework of its natural habitat and the darkly themed illustrations seamlessly ties together jungles, desserts and caves from every continent.