PHAENO – WOLFSBURG
Science Exploratorium Experience - There You Are Amazed
It is rather like a concrete alien spacecraft from another technologically advanced planet has set down in Lower Saxony for a pow-wow with the executives of Volkswagen, perhaps to discuss a contract or acquisition. Wolfsburg Germany is the town that Volkswagen built. The car maker’s factory plant and Autostadt theme park dominates the view across the midlands German canal from the modern city. But next to the Wolfsburg rail station, tied to the factory automobile wonderland across the city footbridge is Phaeno - German for phenomenon, a wonder of science, technology and natural world hands-on experience. It is imprecise to call it a science museum, but perhaps more indoor exhibition play park of wonders.
Phaeno's motto is Da Staunst Du - or "There You Are Amazed" - and describes itself as an “experimental landscape” an exhibition and activity space, principally for kids but amazing for adults as well. Inspired by the Exploratorium in San Francisco (see Exploratorium at Palace of Fine Arts Park), the Phaeno is 900 square meters of technology magic, with 300 different experimental stations following the concept of encouraging the discovery of scientific and natural phenomena through an experience of senses - marvel, touch, play and experiment. Visitors to Phaeno can explore the wonders of electricity, energy, acoustics, optics, cell biology, and many other principals of the natural world.
Phaeno Design
The science exploration on the inside is reflected in the building which encloses it - a uniquely striking futuristic building designed by London based but Iraq born architect Zaha Hadid, whose work is distinguished by its unusual form language intended to captivate the viewer with a use of spatial dynamics. Outside, the building seems an oblique fortress raised above the Willy-Brandt Plaza on cement footings of curving shapes which required a special kind of “self-compacting” concrete to accomplish. The building which took four years to complete is a marvel of avant-garde architectural design and engineering, as fun to walk under as to go in. It takes a few moments to figure out where the entrance is, until discerning the slanting glass in one of the footings open automatically as you draw near.
Science World
Inside the Phaeno world, an escalator rises from the ticket desk into the museum floor spread out over a variety of experimentation sections. Experience spatial disorientation in the tilted room, where the perception of what is up and what is down id thrown out the window. Have a bad hair day encounter with static electricity. Distory yourself with mirrors. Play with an echo chamber or discover the force of your own mass “smack factor” by running as hard as you can into a wall! Take a rodeo ride on a gyroscope, touch lightning, or pass Plasma Gas. Command a robot at your fingertips or control the movements of objects through brainwaves with the Mind Ball. Create a music melody from soap bubbles, make a mushroom from mists, or watch the formation of a tornado of fire. 40 special exhibits designed by artists compliment the learning fun, with two Visitor Labs where kids can put on lab coats and follow the lessons, a Science Theatre and an Ideas Forum.
Visiting Phaeno Wolfsburg
Phaeno is located directly next to the Wolfsburg train station where the ICE High-Speed trains strop on route between Berlin and Cologne, making for an easy stop, or combine with a visit to the VW Autostadt (see VW Autostadt Wolfsburg and Autostadt Activities). Phaeno is open Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 5 pm, weekends and public holidays from 10am to 6pm. Closed on Mondays Admission is €12.50 for adults, €8 for children and teens 6 to 17, children under 6 are free. Family and group tickets are available. There is a full service cafeteria style restaurant, a museum shop with lots of cool stuff to take home, and parking underground. The Wolfsburg Outlet mall is across the street and the city’s pedestrian zone a short walk away. © Bargain Travel Europe
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Phaeno
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See Also:
WOLFSFBURG VOLKSWAGEN ARENA & CITY GUIDE
DALI EXHIBITION - SURREALISM AT POTSDAMER PLATZ
TECHNIK MUSEUM SPEYER - PLANES, TRAINS & SUBMARINES