SCIENCE CENTRE DESIGN CASE STUDY
All About Us exhibition, At-Bristol science centre Emma Cook, exhibitions manager
WHAT IS THE EXHIBITION ABOUT? The content of the All About Us exhibition at the UK’s At-Bristol science centre covers the human body and how the individual systems work in harmony, connecting peo- ple with the world around them. The 680sq m (7,300sq ft) space includes
60 exhibits and a programming space called Live Lab where facilitators and visit- ing experts can present, demonstrate or engage in dialogue with visitors. At-Bristol’s in-house design team worked
closely with Razorbite Design Consultancy to produce a clean, contemporary and freestanding design. Graphics add vibrant splashes of colour, both within exhibit sized panels and large printed wallpaper. The team was excited about the idea of peering inside the human body to take a closer look at how it functions. This approach guided them towards realistic illustrations at, or near, actual size, where layers are stripped off to reveal the work- ings within and annotations provide real imagery and descriptions/explanations.
Visitors discover how their brains and bodies work together in At-Bristol’s £1.5m exhibition One major challenge for the team was
the decision to include a real human brain to create a sense of wonder, with space to consider the physical basis of people’s thoughts, emotions and personality. The team worked closely with the
All About Us includes 50 hands-on exhibits
University of Bristol to overcome the chal- lenge of donation, and the designers identifi ed a sophisticated etched glass tank to 'place' the organ within the outline
of a body to provide a reminder that the brain represented a person, a library of memories, thoughts and feelings. Another key challenge was the linking
of the physical exhibits to the All About Us website. Using barcodes on the visitor's ticket and some clever software, a number of exhibits were chosen to link directly with the site under the name Explore More to inspire further research and activities.
Odysseum Science Adventure, Cologne, Germany
DESIGNER: P&P Projects
into, or part of, the scenery rather then being displayed in a traditional gallery offer. Designed by P&P Projects, the 11m (£9.4m, $14.8m), 4,000sq m (43,000sq ft)
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laiming to be the fi rst fully themed science centre in Europe, all exhib- its at The Odysseum are integrated
science centre is divided into six themed areas covering evolution, space, the elec- tronic revolution, modern medical science, children’s science and outdoor learning. The aim of the design is to combine
learning with play so that children don’t dis- tinguish between the two, but are educated while having fun. For example, visitors learn about evolution in a gallery themed as a forest full of trees and rocks. Guests have to fi nd the exhibits, which are hidden in the hollows of trees, among the rock work or inside caves. The exhibits lead visi- tors through the journey of the beginning
Read Attractions Management online
attractionsmanagement.com/digital
of life on earth, including an unexpected visit from an animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex, to the progression of man from apes – highlighting that there are still many simi- larities, such as facial expressions. The other themed areas include being in space, a medical laboratory and the inside of an electronic device. As well as the interactive exhibits, there
are also many play areas plus an enlarged Playmobil city for children to explore. The centre will be developed every three
years and P&P Projects is currently upgrad- ing the medical science laboratory. ●
AM 1 2012 ©cybertrek 2012
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