where architecture meets experimentation
What a building! The avant-garde phaeno building by star architect Zaha Hadid is spectacular – angular and flowing at the same time. It looks like a spaceship has landed in the middle of Wolfsburg.
But something far more exciting than mere aliens is waiting inside. Across from the VW factory’s four prominent smokestacks, phaeno invites us into ‘the world of phenomena’, a landscape of interactive experiments for young and old. The phaeno is one of the top museums in Niedersachsen.
Science you can grab hold of
Researchers big and small glide up a long escalator into the world of experiments, which starts as soon as you get upstairs. Big metal balls bang together, and a Van de Graaff generator makes people’s hair stand on end. Team work is called for to build an arch bridge out of foam blocks. And when the fire tornado roars to life, everybody runs to catch a glimpse. With 350 phenomena from the sciences and technology, even after several hours there’s no chance of boredom. Head for Wolfsburg!
Amazement and eureka moments
Who’s coming along to discover the world of phenomena?
At phaeno, learning about science and technology is playful and fun. Wonder leads to curiosity, and then discovering and experimenting lead to understanding: phaeno is perfect for schoolchildren. What is electricity made of, and how does it feel? What are genes? Since they can try things out themselves, children get to grips with physics, chemistry and biology much better in this recognised place of informal learning. Sometimes they even have to put their entire body to work, as in the weird witch’s house or the climbing sculpture in the children’s area. Even three-year-olds can scale it in a flash.
Open all year round – and always an experience
It’s always phaeno time!
Its world of experiments is open all year long and is easy to reach as it’s right next to the train station. Workshops and shows complement the permanent exhibits. The popular phaeno Slam also regularly delights audiences. On weekends and during school holidays in Niedersachsen, a hands-on lab invites visitors to become researchers themselves.
phaeno has been recognised as particularly family-friendly with the KinderFerienLand Niedersachsen seal for child-friendly companies. Visitors with limited mobility can also explore the phaeno – the Tourism for All certificate (the seal for barrier-free tourism offerings) guarantees full accessibility.
Touching permitted
