From Zaha Hadid to fire tornado.
Even the construction was an experience: designed by star architect Zaha Hadid, the phaeno building is like a walk-in sculpture. Terraces, craters, plateaus, cones - every corner, every staircase, every stairway is a small adventure trail for the senses. Children run from plateau to plateau, adults marvel, and sometimes you wonder whether you are in a work of art yourself.
Behind it all is hands-on science.
Dr Wolfgang Guthardt, founding director, was the driving force behind this project. Under his leadership, a place was created where physics, maths, technology and amazement go hand in hand. A place that not only confronts visitors with numbers and formulas, but also brings them to life. Michel Junge (CEO) has been continuing this legacy since 2013 - and ensuring that phaeno never stands still. In June 2025, Jana Handrick (CFO) was promoted to the management level.
Experience unexpected moments, be inspired and discover the secrets of science - that's phaeno. Right in the centre of it all: our fire tornado - Europe's tallest indoor tornado (6m). You can feel the swirling whirlpools of air, watch the interplay of fire and wind and learn about physics along the way: how rotation, buoyancy and air pressure interact. Impressive, exciting - and absolutely educational.
Who would have thought that science could be so phenomenal?
Highlights & favourite moments.
Quite a long time: For over 20 years, phaeno has produced countless shows, exhibits, lectures, training courses, events and hands-on labs. Here is a (very) small selection of highlights that have been delighting visitors for years:
- LEGO Bricks: phaeno set new standards with the world's longest self-supporting LEGO bridge. Our guests were not only amazed, but were also able to build it themselves - the perfect example of hands-on science.
- BubbleMania: soap bubbles as big as small planets - a magical, entertaining experience that explains physics in a playful way. Surface forces, air pressure, surface tension - all visible and amazing.
- Mathematikum / MiniMathematikum: Numbers and shapes become tangible. Here, maths comes alive and is fun, from primary school children to curious adults.
- MechaniXX & Drive Future: Physics in motion. Cranking, pushing, turning - you can build your own little power station and experience the laws of mechanics.
- Power2Change - Mission Energy Transition: Experience sustainability, climate protection and renewable energies interactively. Those who generate electricity from muscle power not only learn about mechanics, but also about responsibility for the future.
- Smart new world: digitalisation, AI, Internet of Things - technology is explained in a fun way here. Visitors learn how our everyday lives are shaped by algorithms, sensors and smart devices.
- Fire and air tornado: physics as a spectacle - rotation, buoyancy, wind power. A classic that makes science exciting, visible and tangible.
Science in the world - and at phaeno.
While phaeno itself is growing, the world has been changing rapidly over the last 20 years:
- Digitalisation & AI: From the first smartphone to today's AI applications - phaeno playfully explains how these technologies are changing our lives.
- Climate change & sustainability: Global climate agreements, new forms of energy, environmental issues - topics that flow directly into exhibitions such as Power2Change.
- Quantum physics & Nobel Prizes: Outstanding discoveries show that science never stands still.
- Social challenges: The corona pandemic has shown how important comprehensible science communication is - phaeno responded with digital offerings and hands-on learning formats.
This makes global developments tangible, tangible and discussable - for children, families and adults alike.
Art meets science.
The combination of art and science is unique at phaeno. Artistic exhibits transform abstract phenomena into tangible, visual experiences. Energy, movement and light become sculptures that you can enter, touch and marvel at.
A good example: kinetic sculptures based on physical principles become aesthetic objects. At first glance, visitors not only recognise beauty, but also the science behind it. Art and experiment merge into an interactive experience - creative, surprising and educational at the same time.
Programme for schools, daycare centres & all those thirsty for knowledge.
phaeno is an extracurricular learning centre for all age groups - from the youngest explorers to those interested in science:
- Schools & daycare centresWorkshops, guided tours and hands-on programmes make science tangible. Whether chemistry, physics, maths or technology - here children learn by doing and marvelling.
- Science enthusiastsScience talks, laboratory experiments and lectures provide insights into current research and technological developments.
- Event locationCompanies, clubs or private events experience phaeno as an inspiring place. Team spirit, creativity and a thirst for research come together here.
This turns learning into an experience, and science is not a dry theory, but a hands-on adventure.
Anniversary year 2025: New rooms, old favourites.
The 20th anniversary is not a quiet commemoration for phaeno, but a starting point for a new era. The Science Center will be closed from 27 October to 12 December 2025 - time for renovation, modernisation and a breath of fresh air in the halls. But don't worry: after just a few weeks, phaeno will open in new splendour, with exciting new areas and familiar favourites that have been delighting visitors for years.
You can look forward to new and old themes and areas with a new design and new iconic exhibits. There will also be a new relaxation area, a small but nice addition that offers visitors the opportunity to take a deep breath between experiments and exhibitions. Science makes you hungry and curious (there will also be a bistro again) - and sometimes you just need a moment to reflect on what you've seen before moving on to the next discoveries.
The anniversary will finally be celebrated on 13 and 14 December 2025 - with a big party for all visitors, families, friends, science enthusiasts and the curious. Admission is free, so everyone will have the opportunity to marvel, experiment and experience the innovations up close. The anniversary celebration will be a place of encounters, shared learning and carefree amazement - a moment that reflects phaeno's philosophy in all its facets.
Still
days until the big anniversary celebration!
A look ahead ...
Science, amazement and participation
What will characterise the next decades at phaeno? Clearly: amazement, research and hands-on experience. phaeno will remain a place where scientific principles are not only explained, but also experienced. Interactive exhibitions, laboratory experiments and shows bring physics, chemistry, maths and technology right into the heart of the visitor.
Last but not least, phaeno remains a place of education par excellence: schools, daycare centres and educational institutions will continue to be targeted, science enthusiasts will find workshops and lectures, and companies or associations can use phaeno as an extraordinary event location. The goal is clear: science must not only be explained - it must be experienced, understood and loved.
With these perspectives, phaeno impressively demonstrates that 20 years is just the beginning. The place where physics, technology, maths, art and creativity come together remains a lively meeting place for families, explorers and curious minds of all ages. Marvelling, laughing, learning - at phaeno, science becomes an adventure, and the next tornado is perhaps just a breath away.
