The German Museum of Technology is located in an area of the Berlin that was damaged during World War II and then further neglected during the Cold War that followed. The museum is in two parts: the larger part is historical and contains primarily non-interactive exhibits on the history of technology. A smaller part, located several hundred meters away in another building, is called “Spectrum” and houses an interactive science center. This first report focuses on the larger main museum (history of technology).
The building has an impressive street presence, with a high, glass skin reminiscent of the Rose Center at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. An airplane sits atop the roof, creating a dramatic entrance. The museum consists of two interconnected buildings; the older building has displays on as transportation, textiles, etc. while the new building has a dramatic, multistoried section with much of the area devoted to the history and design of ships. The building is itself an exhibit on technology, with exposed structure and utilities and dramatic spaces on multiple levels. There are many full-sized boats as well as many ship models, cutaway sections of ship hulls, and other objects connected with shipping throughout the ages.
A changing exhibition area of about 300 sq m featured a panel exhibition called “Energy @ Home,” which included information on home heating, power, energy use in the home, windows and heat loss, and renewable energy. The exhibition, developed by the consumer protection board, takes a strong stand against human activities that lead to global warming. The exhibition advocates that consumers reduce their CO2 emissions as an important component of a sustainable future.
The exhibition, while primarily a panel display, includes several interactive components to help visitors engage with the text material. For example, one graphic panel on heating included a small piece of clear plastic with horizontal, triangular ribs on the outside and a small laser pointer on a movable arm (the Sun). Moving the laser to simulate a high sun angle (summer) the light is reflected by the panel, whereas rotating the laser down to simulate a low sun angle (early in the day or winter) the light passes thru the panel. According to the display, such panels can dramatically reduce the internal heating of spaces and reduce air conditioning loads at very low cost, while still allowing natural light in.
In addition to the ever-present energy-cycle (this one was hand-operated), a small chest freezer with its top tiled with foam insulation, wood, stone, and metal showed differences in thermal insulating properties.
Pamphlets provided consumers with tips on what to do to save energy, how to evaluate the pros and cons of installing a photovoltaic system, how modern windows work to save energy, and how to reduce CO2 emissions through replacement of light bulbs, air-drying laundry, etc.
The building has an impressive street presence, with a high, glass skin reminiscent of the Rose Center at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. An airplane sits atop the roof, creating a dramatic entrance. The museum consists of two interconnected buildings; the older building has displays on as transportation, textiles, etc. while the new building has a dramatic, multistoried section with much of the area devoted to the history and design of ships. The building is itself an exhibit on technology, with exposed structure and utilities and dramatic spaces on multiple levels. There are many full-sized boats as well as many ship models, cutaway sections of ship hulls, and other objects connected with shipping throughout the ages.
A changing exhibition area of about 300 sq m featured a panel exhibition called “Energy @ Home,” which included information on home heating, power, energy use in the home, windows and heat loss, and renewable energy. The exhibition, developed by the consumer protection board, takes a strong stand against human activities that lead to global warming. The exhibition advocates that consumers reduce their CO2 emissions as an important component of a sustainable future.
The exhibition, while primarily a panel display, includes several interactive components to help visitors engage with the text material. For example, one graphic panel on heating included a small piece of clear plastic with horizontal, triangular ribs on the outside and a small laser pointer on a movable arm (the Sun). Moving the laser to simulate a high sun angle (summer) the light is reflected by the panel, whereas rotating the laser down to simulate a low sun angle (early in the day or winter) the light passes thru the panel. According to the display, such panels can dramatically reduce the internal heating of spaces and reduce air conditioning loads at very low cost, while still allowing natural light in.
In addition to the ever-present energy-cycle (this one was hand-operated), a small chest freezer with its top tiled with foam insulation, wood, stone, and metal showed differences in thermal insulating properties.
Pamphlets provided consumers with tips on what to do to save energy, how to evaluate the pros and cons of installing a photovoltaic system, how modern windows work to save energy, and how to reduce CO2 emissions through replacement of light bulbs, air-drying laundry, etc.
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