At the headquarters of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt am Main, a new interactive Visitor Centre is being created to make the ECB’s work and areas of responsibility accessible and engaging. Visitors encounter key topics such as price stability, the euro as a common currency and the ECB’s role in banking supervision, while gaining insight into its values and responsibilities. Since 2022, we have been supporting Markenfilm SPACE in the planning, design and implementation of the innovative exhibition concept.

To mark the tenth anniversary of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), a dedicated Banking Supervision section was created. Here, visitors can interact with virtual ECB experts on screen and ask them questions in different languages. Through this direct dialogue, the tasks, risks and importance of banking supervision become easy to understand.

At the exhibit ‘Stress Test’, visitors explore different scenarios ranging from Europe-wide financial crises and climate-related risks to cyber resilience. A sliding-screen interface that dynamically interacts with a graphic skyline illustrates how the banking sector prepares for future challenges. The area is complemented by an interactive multitouch table featuring a map of the European supervisory network and a multiplayer quiz.

What came before the euro? What is a euro banknote made of, and how long does it remain in circulation? In the Euro section, visitors can explore the development from former national currencies to the current series of euro banknotes, displayed behind ten glass panels. They can also learn more about the history of the euro and the advantages of a shared currency. A large, curved €20 banknote invites visitors to take a closer look at the design and security features of different euro banknotes and explore them interactively at an accompanying station. Euro coins can also be examined quite literally under a movable magnifying glass. Visitors can then try to identify their country of origin on a screen.

Further stations illustrate the life cycle of banknotes and the individual stages of their production. Visitors learn about the role played by the ECB throughout this process. The digital euro, as a possible future form of the euro, is also addressed.

At a photo station, up to six visitors can take souvenir photos and combine them with ECB-themed backgrounds. The images serve not only as a personal keepsake but can also become part of a digital gallery wall, where they contribute to a large visual euro symbol. Visitors can also share their impressions of the exhibition live via an interactive feedback wall. Large-format screens are integrated into distinctive interconnected wooden modules designed specifically for this purpose. A clear colour concept structures the different thematic areas and gives each of them a distinct identity within the Visitor Centre.

photos: Markenfilm SPACE