Experimentarium in Copenhagen Re-opened

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designed by Danish firm CEBRA Architecture

Three years of renovation, after a fire in April 2015, Denmark’s world class science center reopens better than ever.

Experimentarium in Copenhagen Re-opened
Pulstorvet (Pusle Marked). Photo: David Trood

Copenhagen’s child-friendly science and tech hot spot Experimentarium has finally opened its doors again in Tuborg Havn in Hellerup. Located 15 minutes north of the center of Copenhagen and designed by Danish firm CEBRA Architecture, the museum now has a roof terrace, 16 exhibits  on 1,500 square meters spread across four floors, and the world’s first interactive cinema equipped with motion sensors, where everyone in the auditorium has to cooperate.

Experimentarium in Copenhagen Re-opened
The Port. Photo: David Trood

The interactive exhibitions focus on science and technology, and the Interactive Film Theatre was developed by Experimentarium and the Canadian science center Science North and made possible by a donation from TrygFonden. The redesign has added a large café and a picnic-area, a convention center, teaching facilities and a series of workshops, as well as the popular exhibits the Bubblearium, The Idea Company and House of Inventions.

Experimentarium City in Copenhagen Re-opened
Experimentarium plays an important role as an informal learning space and as a supplement to schools and upper secondary education

The twisting double helix located at the building’s entrance contains 160 tons of steel and is clad with 10 tons of copper.

Experimentarium City in Copenhagen Re-opened
The new Experimentarium offers hours of phenomenal experiences

“We consume passive entertainment at an all-time high and we surround ourselves with devices that help us do almost everything,” says  Experimentarium project manager, Henrik Helsgaun.  “But when technology and entertainment go hand in hand in the right way, we can also create physical experiences that inspire us to become more active — just like The Interactive Film Theatre does,” he adds.

Experimentarium in Copenhagen Re-opened
The interactive exhibitions focus on science and technology
Experimentarium in Copenhagen Re-opened
Tunnel of Senses. Photo: Christian Yssing

Experimentarium plays an important role as an informal learning space and as a supplement to schools and upper secondary education. The interactive exhibits explore everything from the human body to the fascinating science of soap bubbles.

“We provide families, schools classes and science-lovers in general, across all ages, with high-quality science exhibitions, where you’re allowed to touch and play and experience science in an innovative, new way,” writes Experimentarium on its website.

“The new Experimentarium offers hours of phenomenal experiences. But Experimentarium can also be summed up in that single moment when the spark of curiosity ignites and you suddenly see the light in a new way. Curiosity is the stuff the Experimentarium is made of — and curiosity is where the discovery of science and technology starts,” says Kim Gladstone Herlev, CEO.

The building itself is also rather remarkable. CEBRA won the architectural competition in 2011 to design the new Experimentarium and its design makes the museum feel much bigger and lighter than the previous incarnation. The architectural centerpiece is the curving copper clad Helix staircase inspired by the DNA molecule’s spiral shape.

Experimentarium City in Copenhagen Re-opened
Experimentarium is designed by Danish firm CEBRA Architecture

The architects reused wall structures and foundations from the old Tuborg bottling plant, which was also the setting for the first Experimentarium, and added boxes, made partly of recycled beer and aluminum cans, to the shiny perforated exterior and large glass windows, creating a much lighter and open feeling.

Experimentarium in Copenhagen Re-opened
On the rooftop. Photo: Anders Bruun

Kolja Nielsen, chief executive of CEBRA, said: “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.”

Experimentarium in Copenhagen Re-opened
Experimentarium plays an important role as an informal learning space. Photo: David Trood

Experimentarium has long been a public favorite, attracting over 8 million visitors since opening in 1991. The new Experimentarium expects half a million visitors in 2017 and hopes to attract more international tourists and day visitors from across Denmark and neighbors from Sweden and Norway.

Crown Prince Frederik was among the dignitaries who took part in the official opening ceremony January. 25.

Images via CEBRA Architecture

Experimentarium in Copenhagen Reopened, written by Tor Kjolberg

We wish to thank Henriette Hauge at Experimentarium for her support

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Journalist, PR and marketing consultant Tor Kjolberg has several degrees in marketing management. He started out as a marketing manager in Scandinavian companies and his last engagement before going solo was as director in one of Norway’s largest corporations. Tor realized early on that writing engaging stories was more efficient and far cheaper than paying for ads. He wrote hundreds of articles on products and services offered by the companies he worked for. Thus, he was attuned to the fact that storytelling was his passion.