The Museum für Naturkunde Berlin has the ambition of being an integrative research museum, and now is the time for this vision to take shape, quite literally. Visitors are invited to inspect the – as yet empty – rooms for free during the days of the open building site (all day on 1st and 2nd of June 2018). They can find out how the public will have access to research collections in the future and how individuals can contribute.
How did exhibition concepts change over the past 200 years? How are exhibitions made today? Are the marks left by the war on the building still visible? What are the particular challenges to be overcome in a historical building such as the Museum? These are just some of the topics on which an open building site visit can shed light upon, as there will be live speakers, films and lectures, but it may also be a very individual experience, discovering new spaces in the upper storeys that have so far been inaccessible. Not only lovers of architecture and the collections will be thrilled, but also families with children for whom there is plenty on offer.
You will soon find a detailed programme on: https://www.museumfuernaturkunde.berlin/de/museum/veranstaltungen/tage-…;
Background information:
After the renovation of the Dinosaur Hall and the opening of the East Wing containing the scientific wet collections, the second stage of renovation work will be completed in 2018, on schedule as well as on budget. Collections will be housed under optimal conditions and logistics for collection management will be greatly improved.
The idea of an open and integrative research museum implies that our research collections will become more open and literally accessible to the public – as is already the case for the wet collections. This will elicit curiosity and heighten interest in the collections. Traditional boundaries between collection and exhibition will be crossed to create new space for societal discourse. By enlarging its exhibition space, the Museum responds to the growing interest of visitors in nature. In an experimental planning lab, placed at the heart of the exhibition space, new ideas for new exhibitions and transparent collection spaces in the upper storeys are being developed. Interdisciplinary teams work on innovative ideas, unusual concepts and sophisticated installations. During the month of May, several participation formats will be on offer. (https://www.museumfuernaturkunde.berlin/de/museum/exhibitions/offenes-p…)
Photos relating to Tage der offenen Baustelle can be downloaded here: http://download.naturkundemuseum-berlin.de/presse/TageDerOffenenBaustel…
The photos may be used free of charge for reports relatinng to this press release, citing the name of the photographer and the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin.