Akershus Fortress and Castle in Oslo stands on the site of the medieval Akersborg castle, which was destroyed by fire in 1527. For the “Vår fru dronning Margrete” exhibition (March 2022 – October 2023), the Oslo Kommune Kulturetaten Cultural Heritage Fund commissioned Extended Media to create a visual representation of the castle as it likely appeared during the time of Queen Margrete (1363-1386) and funded an upgrade of the previous museum exhibit (grant no: KUL-D318-CYGZ).
Working closely with historian Tom Andersen and interactive story-architect professor Maureen Thomas, Extended Media used digital technology to overcome the challenge of reconstructing a largely lost historical structure. The foundation for the reconstruction was the work of Norwegian architect Holger Sinding-Larsen, who surveyed the castle ruins between 1905 and 1924, producing detailed, scaled sketches of the possible original appearance of the buildings. These sketches, along with other scholarly interpretations and archival materials from the Akershus Castle Museum, served as the primary historical sources.
Our technical contributions encompassed the entire pipeline from asset creation to interactive implementation. 3D modeling of the castle and its environment, along with character assets, was performed in Autodesk Maya. These assets were then imported into Unreal Engine 4.26, where we developed the interactive experience, involving scripting (using Blueprints), material creation, lighting, and optimization for smooth performance within the museum setting. Character animation, crucial for bringing the cat and owl avatars to life, was also a key part of work. The development process was iterative, starting with a prototype and evolving into a fully realized, permanent exhibit. This likely involved significant testing and refinement based on visitor feedback and technical constraints. The creation process of the historical modelling of Akersborg is illustrated in the video:
We developed a “digital sandbox” approach to test and refine these historical interpretations. This involved creating a dynamic 3D computer model within which different architectural hypotheses could be explored. Visual concepts and descriptions from various sources were integrated into this sandbox, allowing the team to compare and contrast different theories. For instance, the estimated medieval sea level was incorporated into the wireframe model of the terrain, helping to determine the probable heights of walls and other features. The core software used were Autodesk Maya and Zbrush. The “digital sandbox” concept made extensive use of online communication platforms Discord and Zoom.
Following the success of the ‘Vår fru dronning Margrete‘ exhibition, and recognizing the public’s enthusiastic response to the interactive exhibit, the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum sought to make the experience a permanent feature of their Visitor Centre. Extended Media was entrusted with this significant upgrade, building upon our established relationship with the museum and our proven expertise in creating immersive historical environments. This phase of the project moved beyond the initial digital sandbox and visualization, requiring a complete rebuild of the assets for enhanced visual fidelity and interactive performance. The funding secured from Oslo Kommune Kulturetaten allowed us to implement substantial improvements, leveraging the feedback gathered during the exhibition’s run to refine the user experience and historical accuracy.
The transition from exhibition prototype to permanent installation presented both opportunities and technical challenges. While the core historical research remained valid, the demands of a permanent exhibit necessitated a significant overhaul of the 3D assets and interactive systems. Extended Media leveraged the capabilities of Unreal Engine 4.26 to create a more detailed and robust environment. This included a complete remodel of the Akersborg castle, incorporating both inner and outer wards based on the refined historical interpretations developed during the initial phase. Furthermore, we expanded the interactive narrative by incorporating over 200 animated NPC characters, complete with spoken dialogue, bringing the medieval castle to life in a way previously unseen.
A commitment to historical accuracy underpinned every stage of the ‘Medieval Akersborg’ project. It presented a unique challenge: reconstructing a lost structure based on fragmented evidence. This prototype consisted of two separate models – one of the castle’s exterior in its period landscape, and another, adapted from Queens Game, of the North Wing’s interior. While valuable, this initial model incorporated some speculative elements, particularly regarding the North Wing’s internal layout and the features of the unpreserved wings and towers. The upgraded Medieval Akersborg exhibit represents a significant leap forward in accuracy. Extensive research by Andersen and Thomas, revisiting sources like Nicolaysen (1833), Storm (1895), and Sinding-Larsen (1931, 1935), allowed us to refine the topography, dimensions, and architectural details of all the castle buildings. The design of elements like battlements drew inspiration from comparable surviving structures, such as Kalø and Dover Castle. The project also leveraged existing character assets, initially developed for Queens Game and inspired by the Codex Manesse and Luttrell Psalter, to efficiently populate the expanded virtual world.
Despite initial budgetary and time constraints, Extended Media was able to significantly expand the scope of the Medieval Akersborg exhibit beyond the originally planned exterior updates. While a fully explorable Keep interior remains a future goal, our team successfully modeled and populated a detailed buildings, drawing inspiration from our previous work on Queens Game and historical records (Diplomatarium Norvegicum, 1570).
This addition provides visitors with a glimpse into the storage of precious items and documents within the castle. Furthermore, and exceeding the initial project brief, we designed and implemented a range of historically accurate timber buildings representing the working life of the castle. Guided by historian Tom Andersen and referencing sources such as Storm (1901) and Øyen (1934), these structures – including a Wash-house, Bakehouse, Smithy (upgraded from the previous model), Brewhouse, Smokehouse, Kennels, Stables, and various workshops and dwellings – were positioned within the outer curtain walls, furnished, lit, and populated with animated characters, creating a vibrant and immersive depiction of daily life in a medieval castle.
Recognizing the importance of a seamless and intuitive user experience, Extended Media prioritized a user-friendly interface for the ‘Medieval Akersborg’ exhibit. Heuristic evaluation was employed to identify and address any potential usability issues in the start screen navigation. To further enhance accessibility, a dedicated website was created, providing visitors with helpful information and support accessible via smartphone. QR codes, strategically placed alongside the website address, allow for quick and easy access to the online resources using a smartphone or tablet’s camera. This multi-faceted approach ensures that visitors of all technical skill levels can easily engage with the exhibit.
The interactive Medieval Akersborg exhibit proved to be a highlight of the “Vår fru dronning Margrete” exhibition, captivating visitors with its immersive reconstruction of the medieval castle. Its ability to transport users back in time and allow them to explore the castle from unique perspectives generated significant interest and positive engagement.
Recognizing its lasting appeal and potential for continued learning, the decision was made to make the exhibit a permanent fixture at the Visitor Centre. Following the exhibition’s conclusion, it was carefully relocated to an adjacent space, where it continues to delight and educate visitors as a standalone installation.
The ‘Medieval Akersborg’ project has been met with widespread acclaim, both from visitors and industry experts. Feedback from professionals praised the project as “sector leading,”, “inspiring and original“, and “a fresh and engaging approach” to museum interpretation, highlighting its ability to maintain “historical accuracy alongside visitor engagement that appeals to children who are accustomed to gaming technologies.” This recognition underscores the project’s success in leveraging digital technologies to make historical knowledge, typically confined to archives, accessible and engaging for a broad audience. The innovative use of a “digital sandbox” approach, combining archaeological evidence with interactive 3D modeling, allowed for a collaborative and dynamic interpretation of Akersborg Castle’s past.
The virtual reconstruction of the Castle of Akersborg, Norway, stands out through the amazing richness of the aspects of medieval life it captures and the impressive attention to historical detail with which they are implemented. A key innovation resides in its design, which carefully and brilliantly combines elements of game-play and real-time narrative interaction with accurate and detailed visualisations of the past. At one end of the spectrum, commercial games don’t give – and don’t have to give – so much consideration to the the veracity of the historical details. At the other end, historical recreations don’t provide such rich spaces for real-time interaction. This implementation does both.
Medieval Akersborg represents an impressive application of state of the art modelling and rendering tools to interactive museum exhibits, well beyond public installations that I have seen deployed to date. Using these methods to maintain historical accuracy alongside visitor engagement that appeals to children who are accustomed to gaming technologies is quite an achievement. I do hope that this case points the way toward broader consideration of narrative performance within technologically enhanced cultural heritage settings.
Although my expertise with 3d-reconstructions and heritage is primarily from AR and location–based systems, I still find Medieval Akersborg fascinating. The interface conventions for user representation with owl and cat are very nice. I am also impressed by the overall ambience of the simulation, and the way the environment is enriched with a lot of human activity. The artificial lighting also adds well to overall experience.
The detailed recreation of Akersborg will make it easier for users to imagine what the fortress was like in its hey day, full of life, sounds and smells, when they later walk around in the real building and look for real-life clues. Introducing visitors to Akershus Festning in this way should spark interest in its rich history, and hopefully, a wish to know more.
The sandbox methodology used for the Medieval Akersborg model allows an ongoing discussion among historians, storytellers, and exhibit designers, enabling the integration of different media. The creation of narrative scenarios to test the use of spatial predictions is an example of creative interdisciplinary exhibit development.
The Medieval Akersborg interactive storyspace sets itself apart from other museum interpretation by seamlessly blending historical research, dramaturgy and gamification to create an engaging, historically-rooted, almost fairy-tale-like experience.
Sector leading – absolutely fascinating and impressive.
Ultimately, Medieval Akersborg demonstrates the transformative potential of integrating digital technologies and media as a core element of the museum experience, rather than a mere add-on. By creating a real-time interactive virtual experience, Extended Media delivered a multifaceted presentation that caters to diverse learning styles and interests. The exhibit’s engaging gameplay (featuring cat and owl avatars), optional audio commentary (in Norwegian and English), and historically accurate details, all contribute to a compelling and educational experience. Medieval Akersborg successfully achieves the Visitor Centre’s goal of providing an inviting and exciting entry point into medieval history and culture, serving as both a standalone attraction and a compelling introduction to the physical Akershus Fortress. History truly comes alive through this innovative blend of interactive storytelling, cinematic staging, and cutting-edge game technology.