Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre
Keeping a region’s heritage afloat
Client Town of Gravenhurst
The goal for our client was to preserve the region’s fascinating history, much of it immersed in speed boating and grand hotels. FORREC’s design concept was inspired by hand-tinted vintage postcards which became billboard-sized introductions to three distinct exhibit areas. Extensive collections of archival photographs and historical memorabilia were brought to life with sophisticated multimedia and interactive technologies.
A life-sized 3-D replica of the prow of a steamship anchors one exhibit area. Visitors ‘check-in’ to a magnificent Victorian-era hotel in another. And a third features a collection of actual working antique watercraft docked inside a boathouse that can display up to 20 boats in-water year round. FORREC ensured that the exhibits met Canada’s curatorial standards for a licensed museum, while creating an all-season, engaging attraction for cottage country locals and visitors alike.
Facts
Gravenhurst, Canada
Opened 2006
Services
Architecture
Design Management
Exhibit Design
Interior Design
Scope
Master planning, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, construction review and site review
