As part of Bristol Is Open, we transformed We The Curious’ planetarium from a traditional night sky ‘star theatre’ into one of the UK’s most advanced immersive data visualisation environments. The 100-seat theatre’s original pinhole projector was replaced with a jaw-dropping 4KHD visual system, delivering 1.6 billion pixels per second, supported by a 7.1, 5400-watt surround-sound experience.  

 

This was more than a technical upgrade. By linking the planetarium directly into the Bristol Is Open network, we created a city-scale Data Dome, a space where live urban data could be visualised, explored and experienced in real time. The impact extended far beyond smart city experimentation, with the Bristol Games Hub community adopting the planetarium as a unique games development studio shared by 100 people at a time.  Even Rolls Royce engineers used it for jet-engine visualisation at unprecedented scale.

 

The result: A powerful fusion of science, storytelling and advanced technology, demonstrating how urban infrastructure can be reimagined as a platform for creativity, industry and innovation.