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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.
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.
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
for adults, €7.50 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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