18th Mar 2008

Setting the Scene for Hitachi

Winning an extensive scenic build contract to create an entire walk through experience for international brand Hitachi, involved the total fitting out and masking of the QE2 Centre's third floor to create eight distinct areas.

The walk through experience was entitled 'Inspire Life 2008' and was attended by top business executives, MEP's and Government representatives, amongst others. Products from across Hitachi's entire range were exhibited through the area.

We had several challenges to contend with, both of which are hardly unique; the first being access and the second, time. However, we worked hard to overcome both and delivered the project on time, on budget and to the high specification required.

Our client, The Liquid Way, tasked us with defining eight different areas, requiring around 1000 square metres of flattage. Within these areas we provided:

• an impressive 1.5m diameter spinning globe, constructed from GRP and then painstakingly hand painted to realistically represent the world
• three large projection screens, the biggest of which was 38 metres wide
• raked seating for an auditorium
• the masking and filled cloth covering of two 10m x 10m circular trusses
• enclosed walkways
• a staged area
• around 130 square metres of artificial grass to create firstly a garden in the 'Home Life' area and secondly, grassy knoll in the 'Fabric of Life' area, from which attendees could watch the action on the large projection screen
• an area representing a domestic garage, which involved the hand painting of a 10m long fake brick wall complete with the application of shelves, light boxes and a false beamed roof
• and finally, a number of worktops, desks and units to house TV's, monitors and interactive screens

We will be providing a slightly smaller version of the same set at a further Hitachi event in Paris in May