Permanent exhibition: Glems Fruit Tree Museum

VISUELL is undertaking a comprehensive redesign and reorganisation of the Glems Fruit-Growing Museum in Metzingen, a project that began in 2020 following a call for tenders and will be implemented in stages until 2023. The museum focuses on traditional orchard farming and the associated activities throughout the annual cycle, both in the past and today. Regional context, cultural landscape, biodiversity and career profiles are presented to young visitors, families and fruit-growing enthusiasts across 150 square metres in an interactive manner or during a barrier-free guided tour. The project was awarded the Focus Open Gold Awardin 2024. 

Implementation will take place in several phases to make efficient use of the limited funding and to enable the museum to open during the summer months. The detailed concept is being developed and the division into meaningful phases worked out in numerous workshops with the association and other experts. VISUELL is responsible for applying for funding, project planning, tendering for services, awarding contracts to trades, as well as exhibition design and implementation. As the museum is housed in the listed wine press, it is particularly important to treat the building fabric with care. We emphasise the structure of the wine press with dark beams and light wood for the new display furniture, reduce the number of exhibits, and create new fixed-glazed wall openings to let in natural light. The exhibition provides a geographical introduction to the region, illustrates the annual cycle of orchard farming, and offers comparisons of five varieties of fruit trees. This is achieved through analogue, tactile and interactive exhibits such as films, audio stations, rotating columns, jigsaw puzzles, a picking game, magnifying glasses and drawers containing additional in-depth information. The eye-catcher in the museum is not only the large circle on the museum floor, which illustrates the annual cycle, but above all the 3.5-metre-high tree panels to leaf through. The tree panels contain all the key facts and figures on the individual fruit varieties. Information on numerous types and varieties of fruit can be accessed via a separate touchscreen. Children are guided through the museum by Glemmy the bee and a Bandolino game. They can even ring the doorbell at Glemmy’s home and see where she lives. 

Our services include preliminary research, concept development, implementation planning, exhibition design, design, implementation and production. Media elements such as touchscreens, audio stations and films with motion sensors are developed and integrated by VISUELL. As always, we prioritise sustainable practices and ensure this, for example, through the use of certified local timber and organic surface treatments.