Virtual voyages of discovery

Scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute developed the content concept of the exhibition together with the municipality of Helgoland and the agency "studio klv". The Alfred Wegener Institute conducts research in the extreme habitats of the polar regions and oceans - from the atmosphere to the bottom of the seas. At the Helgoland and Sylt sites, scientists from the Institute research the North Sea and its coasts. The excellent scientific infrastructure on the islands is used by researchers worldwide and serves as a foundation for their projects.

In future, BLUEHOUSE HELGOLAND will be operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute, supported by the municipality of Helgoland. However, all those involved still have a lot of work to do before this can happen: the planned exhibition will replace the Helgoland Aquarium on the same site, which had to be closed at the end of 2014 due to structural defects. Construction started with the demolition of the old building.

The exhibition concept is already in place.  The tour leads through four themes, starting in the area "The North Sea Emerges" with a surprise effect: visitors are transported to the time 8000 years ago and initially find themselves on dry land. In the "Discover underwater" area, an 80,000 litre aquarium shows the underwater world off Helgoland. One floor higher, the journey takes visitors to the "Research in the rocky mudflats" area. A light and film show simulates high and low tide and makes it possible to experience Helgoland's unique rocky mudflats. Visitors can also experiment for themselves at numerous interactive exhibits. Afterwards, the area "Recognising the Future" shows how research institutions are working together to find solutions to the problems of climate change. The exhibition language is Halunder, the island language, in addition to German and English.

Externally, the BLUEHOUSE HELGOLAND will hardly be distinguishable from the old aquarium building, as it forms an architectural ensemble with the neighbouring research building - a listed heritage building. However, a new addition is a shimmering bluish glass building that closes the current gap of about 20 metres between the former aquarium and the research wing. This will also visually link the exhibition closely with the research activities. This new building complex will also be the new home of the Alfred Wegener Institute's student laboratory OPENSEA, which is currently still located in the Helgoland Oberland.