Avant-garde architecture for extraordinary phenomena: For 20 years, the phaeno Science Center in Wolfsburg has captivated visitors with interactive exhibits and installations spanning science, technology, and art. Designed by Zaha Hadid, the building is a striking, futuristic landscape—home to countless hands-on experiences.
Following an extended renovation, phaeno will celebrate its grand reopening on 13th of December. At Archimedes, we are proud to have contributed by leading a comprehensive design refresh of the exhibition. In close collaboration with the museum’s curatorial team, we revised, recontextualized, or newly designed 90 exhibits.
Our goal was to make the visit more enjoyable and the overall experience more legible — without diminishing the impact of the architecture or the exhibits themselves.
To strengthen orientation, we redesigned the entrance area with large-scale typography and clear, high-visibility information elements. Throughout the exhibition, we introduced a coherent color system — applied sparingly but with purpose. The new concept is built around a colored furniture system: each exhibit is anchored within its thematic area through a dedicated color element. In addition, large floating light objects beneath the ceiling identify meeting points and intuitively guide visitors through the space — particularly helpful for school groups, families, and larger parties.
A large wooden seating sculpture connects the building’s levels and invites visitors to pause, talk, and reflect — further enriching the visit.
So it’s not only “Happy Birthday, phaeno,” but also: welcome to the next chapter of science centers.
