Project
Interactive multimedia system for the interpretative center in Bezistena – town of Yambol
Principal
Yambol Municipality
Solution
In January 2015 the project for the reconstruction of the Yambol “bezisten” (roofed market) was completed – the only building of this type in Bulgaria preserved from the period of the Ottoman rule, praised as one of the most beautiful roofed markets in the Balkans. The initiative was implemented within the project “Improvement and promotion of leading tourist attractions in Yambol”.
A key part of the reconstruction and modernization of Bezistena and turning it into an interpretation center was building an interactive multimedia system for a comprehensive interpretation and attractive presentation of historical events, objects and personalities from the past of the town and the region, telling modern visitors about the regional historical and cultural heritage of the town of Yambol and the region, and provision of updated information about current and future projects and initiatives of the municipality. As a contractor of this element of the interpretative center, KONTRAX designed, installed and “animated” a 4-component multimedia interactive system including high-tech computer equipment and a development of 86 audio-video information pieces translated into 5 languages (Bulgarian, English, Russian, German and French).
The first component of the system a visitor to the museum sees are the so called info-point terminals /equipped with 42“ public touch displays/ located at the three entrances of Bezistena. These “kiosks” provide information about the opportunities available for viewing in the site, as well as the history and plan of the building.
The second attraction – Tunnel of Time, is an interactive installation consisting of 16 KIOSK terminals equipped with 32” and 42” touch display where visitors can select and launch animated movies and get acquainted with well-known persons and interesting facts that have played a significant role in the regions’ history, from antiquity to the present day.
The third component of the system – View and Appearance – is a unique attraction for Bulgaria called “interactive land” – on a screen measuring 2.40 x 2.40 meters, a map of Yambol District is projected, and at the moment the visitor steps on the screen, the map “disappears” and its place is taken by an interactive menu through which the visitor, through a series of steps (commands), can activate screening audio-video information of their interest about the physical appearance of the place/region during different eras.
The last component – Visual Thematic Routes – includes interactive presentation of possible “routes” for sightseeing of sites and surrounding landmarks (an interactive scale model of the town and the surrounding area with a visualization of each route), as the main purpose of this attraction is for the visitors to be informed about the historical sites and traditions of the town which that can later visit.
The interactive multimedia system implemented in Bezistena not only gives access to rich information and, in some cases, forgotten facts and images of the past of the region, but is also a fun and interesting teacher for the young museum visitors.
