Project: Projection and Immersive Experience at Château Dufresne – Rêver Beau, Rêver Grrand Exhibition
Client: Château Dufresne, Museum and Heritage Site
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Sector: Museum Studies, Historical Heritage & Digital Scenography
Technologies: Projection Mapping, Computer, Touchscreen, Audio System, and Motion Sensors.
Simbioz Services: Video Production & 2D Animation, Furniture Design, AV Integration, On-Site Installation.
Furniture Fabrication: Atelier LABOUTIQUE
The Challenge: Enhancing the Historic Billiard Room Without Altering the Décor
Château Dufresne sought to transform the former billiard room of Oscar Dufresne’s residence—the very first room visitors walk through upon arrival—into an immersive introductory space. The challenge was to create a fully autonomous system allowing guests to get a captivating overview of the site’s history from their very first steps, while preserving the heritage character of this emblematic early 20th-century French-Canadian bourgeois interior.
The Simbioz Solution: A Turnkey, Invisible Multimedia Experience
Simbioz designed an autonomous immersive experience that activates automatically upon visitor arrival using motion sensors. The installation combines a 2D animated narrative short produced from period archives, projection mapping calibrated to the historic 1930s billiard table, and the complete supply, configuration, and installation of hardware (PC, projector, touchscreen, audio). To preserve the visual authenticity of the welcoming area, Simbioz also handled the custom design of a period-style cabinet subtely concealing all computer equipment.
The Results: An Immersive Gateway into the Château’s History
Serving as the true starting point of the museum tour, the “Rêver Beau, Rêver Grand” installation provides visitors with a clear and impactful historical context as soon as they arrive. The system’s complete autonomy ensures a smooth and continuous flow of guests, allowing everyone to dive directly into the vision of Maisonneuve’s founders.
