“Retired fireboat goes on display. Commissioned by the Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department, The Fireboat Alexander Grantham Exhibition Gallery occupies 3,500 sq. ft. and outlines Hong Kong's fireboat history from 1883 to the Present,” said Oriana Reich. “The brief included some unusual factors: the enormous physical presence of the fireboat onsite, a semi-outdoors environment and the need to appeal to a wide audience, from young children to adults. The gallery is carved out of the adjacent garden and set at sea level, circular skylights send water-tinged shadows streaming onto the exhibition from the pond above while curved glass walls allow all-weather viewing. Aiming to create mass appeal and yet devise unique displays was the primary challenge. Four iconic items serve as central motifs that transform throughout the exhibition timeline: the Hong Kong skyline, the firemen's helmets, tools and boat design. How these items evolve over time is key to the narrative. Like stage sets, the team used a method of layering information to make the most of the shallow, weatherproof display cases. Various artifacts are positioned in an active mode, showing their function as opposed to being displayed passively while multimedia games and videos add an interactive element in the exhibition.”