Klimahaus Bremerhaven 8-deg East, Germany

Klimahaus is an exciting new 9,000-sq-m (100,000-sq-ft) attraction, based on global climate change, that is currently under construction and due to open next summer (2008).

The frame of the building is the wide, lower construction with cranes in the front of the photo, showing outward-sloping concrete columns in the lower half of the building. (The taller structure is a hotel, also under construction).

The project was proposed by the same private firm Petri and Tiemann (”Marketing, Themes, and Edutainment”) that operates Universum in Bremen. The venue will be operated by an independent company organized and owned by Petri.

The organizational model for Klimahaus is an interesting one. The project is being funded by the city of Bremerhaven (70 million Euros, or a little under $100 million USD), with a new for-profit management firm Klimahaus Betriebsgesellschaft mbH responsible for operations. Profits accrue to the management firm, but the building, exhibits, and land will be owned by the city.

Klimahaus, even while under construction, is a dramatic presence on the waterfront of Bremerhaven. Its kidney-bean-like shape is evokes the image of a cloud, and the exterior is entirely clad in glass, apparently with no two panels alike. And, according to the prospectus, there will be no right angles inside.

I observed the construction site (currently building interior reinforced concrete columns, beams, and floors) and was fortunate to receive the first English-language prospectus of the project, which included a DVD with a virtual 3-D tour through the building. A webcam is also available 24-7.

Inside, there will be three primary themes, including:

1) Journey: a trip to 8 different locations showing how people live in different climate zones along the 8-deg longitude line that goes through Bremerhaven;

2) Elements: an interactive look at the relationship of Earth, Wind (air), Fire (Sun), and Water to climate; and

3) Perspectives: a look at climate change, human influence, and what we can do to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.

Also, Klimahaus has produced a series of almost 20 interactive exhibit stations that are being sent to 30 schools over the next 2 years.

This project may well be the world’s largest museum venue specifically dedicated to bringing the issue of climate change to the public (for some time to come). It is clearly set up as an edutainment venue, with increased tourism for Bremerhaven the principal measure of success. However, the project team has been careful to engage climate experts from a several well-respected institutions (such as the nearby Alfred Wegener Institute) to ensure that the exhibits reflect the best current scientific thinking about global warming and climate change.