丨丹麦哥本哈根丨丹麦建筑公司CEBRA

Architecture Inspired by Science and Technology: Experimentarium Science Center

CEBRA’s Experimentarium Science Center reopens and giant copper stairway welcomes visitors

Copenhagen, Denmark

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CEBRA's Experimentarium science museum: looking upwards at the staircase from ground level, photo by Adam Mørk

A vast

11,500 square metres of exhibition space

are spread across four floors, bursting with experiences for all ages. Experimentarium is a new version of the original Experimentarium, which opened in 1991 and has thrilled more than 8,2 million visitors through the years.

The Experimentarium, one of Denmark’s top science centers, has reopened renewed. Designed by danish architecture firm CEBRA, the scheme features a

100 meter-long helix staircase

, built from 160 tons of steel and clad with 10 tons of copper.

"

We have designed a building that reflects and supports Experimentarium’s exciting exhibits. Both the interior and exterior are strongly inspired by Science and Technology

", says Kolja Nielsen CEBRA architecture CEO and partner.

This inspiration can be seen in the impressive and beautifully spiralling copper stairway at the entrance, recalling the twisting double

helix structure of DNA

. Experimentarium is housed in the former soft drinks bottling facility of the world-famous Danish brewery Tuborg. As an homage to the building’s history, Experimentarium’s new 28-tonne aluminium facade is made partly of

recycled beer and aluminium cans

.

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CEBRA’s Experimentarium science museum: the scheme features a 100 meter-long helix staircase, photo by Adam Mørk

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CEBRA’s Experimentarium science museum: outside view by night. The building’s different functions are made visible in the form of stacked boxes, photo by Adam Mørk

So, the Experimentarium seeks to explore and convey the fields of science and technology — from the illustration of fluid dynamics on its façades, to the helix staircase itself. With the World’s first interactive cinema, an enormous roof terrace for open-air activities, and

16 challenging and interactive exhibits

that explore everything from the human body, the refurbishment

doubles the size

of the venue’s previous exhibition. The large roof terrace, which opens for activities during the spring of 2017. modern staff facilities, a large café and a picnic-area, a convention center, teaching amenities, and a series of workshops are also included as part of the overhaul.

"

T

he aim of the design is a radical change of experimentarium’s architectural expression

, continues Nielsen,

from previously being an introvert building to now appearing as an extrovert, engaging and vibrant attraction

".

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CEBRA’s Experimentarium science museum: the stairs are built from 160 tons of steel, and have been clad with 10 tons of copper, photo by Adam Mørk

Externally

, the building’s different functions are made visible in the form of stacked boxes and, simultaneously,

the perforations create a pattern

that illustrates how the flow of air and fluid changes when met with resistance.

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CEBRA’s Experimentarium science museum: the structure welcomes visitors inside the museum, photo by Adam Mørk

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CEBRA’s Experimentarium science museum: the helix-shaped feature substantiates the building’s scientific focus, photo by Adam Mørk

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CEBRA’s Experimentarium science museum: outside detail. Perforations create a pattern that illustrates how the flow of air changes when it meets resistance, photo by Adam Mørk