How to bring children closer to the environment? How can digital installations be combined with creative activities, encouraging the learning of scientific knowledge?

The Genius Loci exhibition, presented at Explora, the Children's Museum of Rome, was conceived with the aim of bringing the youngest children closer to nature, answering questions related to understanding and enjoying the natural world.
This innovative exhibition proposes a multidisciplinary approach, inviting children to be inspired and guided by the beauty of nature. The exhibition space is designed to explore natural wonders through interactive digital installations that integrate learning and entertainment, stimulating curiosity and promoting respect for the environment.

Genius Loci is configured as a true immersive journey, articulated in stations designed to engage and surprise visitors. The installations allow visitors to experience the potential of digital technology and deepen their understanding of natural phenomena, offering experiences ranging from the observation of symmetry to the discovery of geometric shapes found in nature.

A world of interactive discoveries

Within the exhibition space, children have the opportunity to explore five themed stations, each celebrating the beauty and complexity of nature.
As Draw and Fly, a station that explores symmetry in the animal, plant and human kingdoms through digital animation. Visitors can draw a butterfly with a ‘mirror’ effect and see it projected on a wall.
Or as Green Geometries, a station that relates body movements to plant growth. Thanks to body movement tracking technology, it is possible to observe how the growth of trees follows hidden geometric patterns, revealing the order that governs nature.
And more The Face of Fruit, a station that allows the creation of compositions of human faces using natural elements such as fruit and vegetables, inspired by the iconic botanical portraits of Giuseppe Arcimboldo.
And Arborea, a digital window illustrating the cycle of the seasons, showing the changing color and appearance of trees in real time, offering an evocative view of nature's transformations.
And last Forms of Light, a creative experience that invites participants to compose luminous figures, exploring the geometric regularities hidden in the growth of plants.

An invitation to discover nature

Genius Loci represents an innovative way of experiencing and understanding the natural world, stimulating creativity and imagination through play, interaction, and hands-on learning. The experience, accessible to people of all ages, combines art, science, and technology, fostering a "learning by doing" approach that encourages participants to actively engage with the environment. By exploring and experimenting, individuals are able to uncover the hidden secrets of nature, making the experience both educational and deeply engaging. This dynamic method not only enhances understanding but also nurtures curiosity and a deeper connection to the world around us.

The project

Genius Loci, is a project realized thanks to the incentive ‘Digital Transition Cultural and Creative Organisations (TOCC)’ of the Ministry of Culture and funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU. It was created to strengthen the cultural and digital offer of the museum, making Explora more competitive at an international level in terms of innovation.