Électrium | Hydro-Québec

Hydro-Québec mandated La bande à Paul to revamp and refresh the permanent exhibit at its signature interpretation centre, the Électrium, in Sainte-Julie. The exhibition features a multitude of interactive mechanical and electronic elements and takes visitors of all ages on a tour that demystifies complex notions about electricity. The centre relies on an experienced team of scientific facilitators who guarantee the quality of the experience. While the exhibition’s components can be experienced in self-guided mode, we were first and foremost concerned about developing a design suitable for guided tours. 

One key thing we kept in mind in our design approach was that the centre could not close for work for very long as it is very busy and booked well in advance. For this reason, we chose a phased approach. The artistic direction, the graphical approach, the type of illustrations, the choice of colours and materials, the types of handling, the way in which the objects are presented were all conceived for ease of implementation and to produce a coherent end result. 

Our concept was based on the idea of the blackboard, which naturally evokes learning, knowledge and experimentation in the collective imagination. As a uniform showcase for the revamped interactive elements, the room’s peripheral walls were decorated dark grey as a nod to a figuratively erased blackboard.

The first stage of the project, the Nature Zone, was completed in 2018. The second stage, the Electromagnetic Zone, was completed in the spring of 2020. The exhibition’s last two zones are set to be revamped in 2021-2022.