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Phaeno Science Center

Coordinates:52°25′44″N10°47′24″E/ 52.42889°N 10.79000°E/52.42889; 10.79000
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For the ancient copper mining complex also known as Phaeno, seeKhirbat Faynan.
"Phaeno" redirects here. For Oceanid, seePhaeno (mythology).
Phæno Science Center
Exterior view of the Phæno Science Center
Map
General information
Architectural styleDeconstructivism
Town or cityWolfsburg
CountryGermany
Coordinates52°25′44″N10°47′24″E/ 52.42889°N 10.79000°E/52.42889; 10.79000
Completed24 November 2005
Cost79,000,000€
ClientCity of Wolfsburg
Design and construction
Architect(s)Zaha Hadid

ThePhæno Science Centeris an interactivesciencecenter inWolfsburg,Germany,completed in 2005.

The Phæno Science Center[edit]

Phæno arose from urban planning by the City of Wolfsburg. In 1998 City officials were developing a plot of vacant, public land immediately adjacent toWolfsburg's railway stationand just south of VW's huge, then-unfinished attractionAutostadt.An art museum was planned for the site, but Dr. Wolfgang Guthardt, then the City's Director for Culture, Sports and Education, knew that such an institution would compete with Wolfsburg's successful Kunst Museum (Art Museum) and needed other options.[citation needed]Guthardt visited Technorama, a science center inSwitzerlandand became convinced that a science center in Wolfsburg would complement both Autostadt and the Kunst Museum.[citation needed]

Preliminary planning began in November 1998, and one year later Joe Ansel, anAmericanconsultant and designer, was approached to handle the exhibitions and other operational aspects of the project. Anarchitectural design competitionwas held in January 2000 and the prominent architectZaha Hadidwon, in conjunction with structural engineers, Adams Kara Taylor. About five years later, Phæno opened to the public on November 24, 2005 with over 250 interactive exhibits from Ansel Associates, Inc. all enclosed in an astounding concrete structure designed by Zaha Hadid, her German associate, Mayer Bährle architects and Adams Kara Taylor. The architectural design has been described as a "hypnotic work of architecture - the kind of building that utterly transforms our vision of the future." The design won a2006 RIBA European Award[1]as well as the 2006Institution of Structural Engineers Awardfor Arts, Leisure and Entertainment Structures.

The building stands on concrete stilts, allowing visitors to the Autostadt to pass through without interfering with the workings of the building. Phæno is connected to the Autostadt by a metal bridge accessed by escalators and stairs either side. The underside of Phæno and the "stilts" are illuminated.

Dr. Guthardt is now Phæno's first Executive Director. Phæno has enjoyed high attendance and broad public acceptance since its grand opening. The Science Center has a theme song, "Phaenomenal," which was written and performed by American singer/songwriterAmanda Somervillefor the opening.

The Phæno was included on a list of the 7 wonders of the Modern World (objects built since 2000) byThe Financialist.[2]

Movie appearances[edit]

The Phaeno appears in the movieThe International(2009) as headquarters of an Italian weapons company - digitally inserted in front to a cliff at theIseo Lake.

The Phaeno also appears in the Germandisaster filmHeroes[de](2013) as alarge hadron collider.

The Phaeno appears in the Belgian-Dutch dystopian television seriesArcadia(2023).

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"RIBA European Awards".RIBA. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-09-30.Retrieved2009-09-21.
  2. ^"The Seven Future Wonders of the World | the Financialist".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-12-02.Retrieved2012-12-03.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toPhæno.
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