Christie brings Bantony Castle’s history to life
Christie brings Bantony Castle’s history to life
A 145-year-old former royal residence in Shimla has been transformed into a digital museum, using 12 Christie laser projectors to present the region’s history and cultural heritage across six galleries.
Bantony Castle Museum, located in Himachal Pradesh, northern India, was once the summer palace of the Maharaja of Sirmaur. The project, designed and implemented by Tricolor India Schauspiel, combines projection mapping, immersive environments and interactive-style visual storytelling to create distinct visitor experiences.
The installation comprises five Christie Inspire Series DWU960ST-iS projectors, four Captiva DWU500S projectors and three GS Series DWU630-GS projectors. Each system was configured to suit the architecture, content and viewing requirements of its respective gallery.
The Nicholas Roerich Immersive Gallery is a key feature, with five DWU960ST-iS projectors creating a 270° visual environment incorporating floor projection. Animated interpretations of Roerich’s paintings are combined with projection-mapped content developed by Tricolor India Schauspiel director Ross Ashton and an immersive soundscape designed by Karen Monid.
Elsewhere, two DWU630-GS projectors create a synchronised L-shaped projection in the Summer Capital Gallery, tracing Shimla’s historical development. Two Captiva DWU500S projectors in the same gallery present holographic-style depictions of Indian independence figures Mahatma Gandhi and Satyanand Stokes.
The Art, Life & Culture Gallery uses a Captiva DWU500S to animate motifs from the traditional Chamba Rumal embroidery craft. Another DWU500S projects dishes, ingredients and culinary narratives onto a purpose-built dining table in the Taste of Shimla Gallery. A DWU630-GS projector supports the Mysteries of Shimla Gallery, combining large-format wall projection with synchronised audio to explore stories associated with the city’s colonial past.
“The vision for Bantony Castle Museum was to create a contemporary visitor experience that brings Shimla’s history and Himachal Pradesh’s cultural heritage closer to audiences, while respecting the character of this important property,” said Himanshu Sabharwal, creative director of Tricolor India Schauspiel.
“Bantony Castle Museum demonstrates how projection can become integral to the narrative rather than simply a way to display content,” commented Rishubh Nayar, -proAV sales director for India, Christie. “By combining the performance and installation flexibility of our 1DLP laser projectors with Tricolor India Schauspiel’s creative direction, AV engineering, and content integration expertise, the team delivered experiences that adapt to each story.”
