The Story
Our collaboration with Tour des Sites began with a slight false start: an initial urgent request that we unfortunately couldn’t take on due to our availability.
But we were genuinely keen to work together, and we made sure they knew it… so they thought of us for their next project!
Off to Bastogne, Belgium, for a video mapping show dedicated to the city’s history, from its medieval origins to the defining events of the Second World War, with its legends and folklore along the way.
Conceived and orchestrated by Tour des Sites, this monumental show combined architectural projections, storytelling and artistic performances to bring centuries of history to life across the façades of iconic buildings.
Initially approached to create four visual sequences, we ultimately contributed 16 of the show’s 56 sequences, representing a significant part of a performance lasting over 40 minutes.
When you love what you do, who’s counting?
The Challenge
Three historic buildings, three different architectural styles and one ambition: to make the stones tell their stories.
The show unfolded simultaneously across three iconic buildings in Bastogne:
- Porte de Trèves
- Saint Peter’s Church
- Maison Mattelin
Each presented its own architectural constraints: dimensions, reliefs, textures and projection surfaces. A real playground for architectural video mapping, where every animation must be designed around the building on which it is projected.
Our challenge was to create visual sequences that would embrace the architecture while maintaining a fluid narrative and an artistic identity consistent with the overall show.
We developed sequences combining motion design, animation and visual effects, using the volumes and distinctive features of the façades to create illusions of depth, transformation and movement.
Another particularity: we were part of a collective production bringing together several artists and creative teams, with live actors and a voice-over guiding the audience through the story.
We therefore had to balance creative freedom, narrative consistency and technical constraints, all within a particularly tight production schedule.
A bit like playing in an orchestra… but with pixels, projections and centuries-old stones!
The WAAAW Effect
In Bastogne, architecture became a true storytelling medium.
Through the visual sequences created by waaaw.studio, historic façades were transformed into living environments, taking audiences on a journey through the different eras of local history.
Depth effects, architectural transformations, animations and visual effects brought a new dimension to the city’s heritage while contributing to the overall energy of the show conceived by Tour des Sites.
The result: a collective experience where video mapping, audio narration and live performances came together to bring Bastogne’s history back to life.
And for waaaw.studio, this first collaboration marked the beginning of a wonderful creative journey with Tour des Sites.
Sixteen sequences, three buildings and a few centuries of history: more than enough to create a real WAAAW effect!
What if your heritage came to life?
Transform your façades and historic buildings into spectacular visual experiences. Architectural video mapping, 2D/3D animation or immersive storytelling: let’s bring a new dimension to your cultural and heritage events.
Let’s Talk About Your Project!