Phaeno Science Center

Phæno - The experimental landscape is a Science Centre in Wolfsburg ( Lower Saxony).

• 4.1 Pictures and Movies
• Article 4.2 to the experimental stations
• 4.3 articles on architecture

Facts and Figures

Science Museum

The building was designed by the Iraqi- British architect Zaha Hadid and implemented in project partnership with the architectural firm Mayer- Bährle. After a little more than four years of construction, the permanent exhibition was opened on 24 November 2005. Over 350 interactive experiment stations (of which around 40 designed by artists ) make science and technology experience with different senses. The approximately 9,000 -square-foot exhibition is organized according to the main themes " life, vision, energy, dynamism, flair, Mirror ". Changing special exhibitions complement the topics.

There is no prescribed courses in accordance with the educational concept that a playful approach to the phenomena promotes the understanding best. Simple experimental setups request the visitors to understand the respective operation by thinking and not just by mere trial and error. Look and text panels ( German and English) explain the particular process at each station. On the ground floor there is the entrance area, the idea forum that science theater and a restaurant above is the main floor, the " experimental landscape ". 2013 was one of the phæno around 260,000 visitors. It is a recognized non-formal learning center.

Architecture

The powerful, but very dynamically designed building was substantially made of concrete and steel. Despite its 27,000 cubic meters of concrete, the building brings interior and exterior of a flowing and floating impression. The height of the building is 16 m, and extends over a maximum length of 170 m. Ten cone-shaped concrete pillars ( " cones " ) with a diameter of up to seven meters support the building. The pillars create a cavernous space for outdoor events. The cones are not solid but hollow constructed and offer different functions such as a science theater and a small restaurant. Inside the building are changing with each step, the prospects by oblique walls, a bent and uncovered steel beam roof structure, italic vision slots in massive concrete walls and slanted niches. The all-round dynamics of the building is intended to promote the architect Zaha Hadid after a spiritual openness and flexibility.

Under the phæno

Phæno night

Transition between phæno and Autostadt

Engineering

For use was a novel and in Germany for the first time in such a large building mass in buildings inserted self-compacting concrete (SCC). Problems in the design, the construction and the concrete composition required one of the largest redevelopment of finished concrete building structures. Many square meter in the loadbearing walls supporting cone 6 had to be replaced by new concrete and new reinforcement, which also phæno itself had become an " experimental landscape " structurally.

Execution

The costs amounted to 79 million euros for planning, building, underground parking, access to the city bridge ( over the Mittelland Canal to Autostadt ), exhibits as well as at other facilities and were for the most part of the city of Wolfsburg taken.

Foundation phæno

The city of Wolfsburg is the initiator, but not client of the project and not the subsequent carrier. The client is the new territory Housing Association as translucent private developers, they are setting up the phæno foundation consisting of several companies such as Volkswagen and Sennheiser. Companies is the establishment of the phæno profit company. Manager was until September 2013 Wolfgang Guthardt, former City Council and Cultural Affairs of the City of Wolfsburg and initiator of phæno. As of October 2013, the management was taken over by Michel boy. From curator Joe Ansel comes the concept of interactive and thematic " Science Center", which he introduced in other countries.

Movies

• Phenotype, the building " landscape". Documentation, France, 2006 26 min, Director: Richard Copans, production: Arte France, Row: architecture, German Original Air Date: September 14, 2009 Summary of arte with video excerpt, 2:25 min
• In the movie The International by Tom Tykwer, the phenotype is seen as the center of an Italian arms company. The building has been set but virtually to the Lago d' Iseo in front of an impressive mountain backdrop. ( Point in the film: 1:30:15 hrs )