SOMERSET.- In Somerset (UK), the excavation of the fourth-century Roman Villa Ventorum is the basis for a new cultural experience: the
Roman Villa Museum. Here, you step into the life of a wealthy farmer and landlord in the year 351 CE. A visit consists of two parts: a museum full of information and original objects and a reconstruction of the Villa Ventorum. How does your life compare to that of a Roman in Britain 1600 years ago? It might not be as different as you may think...
Welcome to the Roman Villa Museum!
You'll find the Roman Villa Museum at The Newt estate, where we previously designed The Story of Gardening and Beezantium. Remarkable archeological discoveries were found on the estate's grounds: everyday objects, human remains and an entire villa from the height of the Roman Empire in Great Britain.
Most of the villa remains underground. A small part has been excavated and can be admired in the museum, which is built around this piece of the ruin. We developed a turnkey exhibition for the museum.
In the museum, you can compare your own life to that of a Roman. Politics, religion, agriculture and crafts; all aspects of daily life are covered. You can get married, pray, trade and see how hair trends spread through portraits on coins. Rather than focusing on the urban perspective, we start with Roman life in the English countryside. The exhibition's structure is inspired by Roman architecture: geometric shapes, arches and niches form an atmospheric backdrop for the collection. Countless stories lie within the museum’s white walls. As you move through the museum, these stories come to life: your presence activates the films, animations, location-controlled audio stories and interactive games.
Next to the museum is the Villa Ventorum (villa of the winds): a reconstruction of a Roman villa for which we developed the audio and virtual reality experiences. Built with authentic materials and techniques, the villa is the most extensive Roman reconstruction of its kind in Great Britain. It is our representation of life in Roman times. As curators of the villa, we worked with South West Heritage Trust and other historians, archaeologists and experts in ancient plumbing to develop the experience’s content. We translated their knowledge and advice into a time capsule where you can touch and try everything – bringing Roman Britain to life.
Newly painted walls, a gym, a spa and operational wood-fired underfloor heating: you could move in immediately. But alas, the villa is already inhabited! At least, so it seems. The bathtub is full of water, and the fire burns. We developed a theatrical experience with a location-controlled audio tour that seamlessly integrates sounds and stories as you tour the villa. Scampering mice, running water and inside information about life on the estate from the housekeeper immerse you within the estate’s environment. In the audio tour, the housekeeper talks about the party that will take place that evening. You are also invited: using VR headsets, you can mingle and party with the exuberant Roman guests. Those Romans had it pretty good!
