Fortaleza Health Museum: Design and Innovation for Historical Preservation
The Epitácio Pessoa Institute, a historical building managed by the Fortaleza City Hall (Brazil), has played several roles over the years. Its spaces have been adapted for various purposes such as libraries, cinemas, schools, and associations. However, despite its cultural relevance, it lacked a clear, lasting purpose. Recognizing the importance of preserving the history of healthcare in Fortaleza, the building will now be repurposed into the Fortaleza Municipal Health Museum.
This project reflects a vital connection between the city's development and its healthcare achievements. Fortaleza’s healthcare institutions, especially the José Frota Institute (IJF), are recognized for their public impact, particularly in trauma and emergency care. The new museum will merge these narratives, preserving the history of local healthcare advancements while utilizing cutting-edge design to create a modern, interactive museum experience.
The Fortaleza Health Museum is a multidisciplinary project that combines expographic, graphic, digital, product and interactive design to create an immersive experience. Focusing on education and preservation of public health, the project covers all phases of creation, from concept to execution, integrating augmented and virtual reality and UX Design. The museum was conceived as a knowledge space, accessible and interactive for different audiences, reflecting innovation in museum design.
EXHIBITION DESIGN
Expography is the art and science of designing museum exhibitions. It includes creating visual narratives, interactive modules, digital elements, and physical structures. The Fortaleza Municipal Health Museum will use expography to weave together stories of the city’s growth and its health institutions, offering a space where visitors can connect with this history in a dynamic and immersive way.
According to Bordinhão, Valente, and Simão (2017), expography involves integrating graphic, product, digital, and information design into exhibition spaces. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that visitors not only view artifacts but also experience the history and significance of the city’s healthcare system through interactive, aesthetic, and functional elements.
BRANDING AND VISUAL IDENTITY
Creating a strong visual identity is critical to establishing the museum’s brand. The historical Epitácio Pessoa building itself serves as a key inspiration for the branding. Elements like the building’s arches, windows, and columns are reflected in the museum's logo and overall aesthetic. The visual identity was carefully crafted to align with the values of credibility, innovation, and the rich history of health institutions in Fortaleza.
The brand’s color palette features monochromatic tones of black and white, symbolizing history and contrast, while a vibrant yellow was chosen to represent the “Land of the Sun,” as Fortaleza is known. This color conveys vitality, optimism, and energy, adding a contemporary touch to the museum's historical narrative.
IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES AND DIGITAL INTEGRATION
A central part of the visitor experience at the Fortaleza Municipal Health Museum will be immersive digital exhibits. Also developing an app for virtual reality capable to show all the public hospital of the region mapped in the city Fortaleza and show informations about it like history and pics.
For instance, the “Tree of Life” installation will showcase testimonials from patients and healthcare professionals, shared through floating cards suspended from the ceiling. Visitors can access deeper layers of these stories through QR codes linked to videos and audio clips.
Another key feature is the virtual reality (VR) experience, where visitors will take on the perspective of a patient being transported through the emergency corridors of the José Frota Institute. This immersive journey, filled with sounds of ambulance sirens, rushing footsteps, and distant voices, is designed to evoke empathy and reflection in healthcare professionals about the patient experience.
INTERACTIVE AND ACCESSIBLE DESIGN
The museum's design emphasizes accessibility for all visitors. Each exhibit is equipped with audio-assisted technology, such as headphones designed in the shape of stethoscopes, which automatically play descriptive audio when visitors approach. In addition, all exhibits include Braille panels for the visually impaired, ensuring that the museum’s content is accessible to diverse audiences.
The design also includes comfortable seating areas that encourage visitors to pause and reflect. These seating options, called “Health Portals of Fortaleza,” are minimalist in design and inspired by the building’s historic entrances.
AUDITORIUM AND EVENT SPACES
The museum’s auditorium will host events, lectures, and training sessions for healthcare professionals. Designed with acoustics and comfort in mind, the space will feature modern reclining chairs and be equipped with advanced digital presentation technology, providing an ideal environment for professional gatherings and educational events.
CONCLUSION
The Fortaleza Municipal Health Museum aims to serve as a bridge between the city’s historical healthcare advancements and the community, using modern design and technology to create a space that is both educational and emotionally engaging. By honoring the past and integrating innovative design, this project will bring to life the stories of healthcare institutions that have shaped the city of Fortaleza, while setting a new standard for interactive museum experiences.
