Construction of Helgoland's new attraction is about to begin: In the fall of 2022, the first work on BLUEHOUSE HELGOLAND will start. From 2024, visitors will then be able to experience a unique exhibition ranging from the history of the North Sea to the future of marine research. Among other things, the focus will be on an 80,000-liter aquarium showing Helgoland's underwater world. The project is being financed with around 20 million euros by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the state of Schleswig-Holstein and the municipality of Helgoland. The concept of the exhibition was realized by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), which is also responsible for the operation of the house.
What are scientists researching on Helgoland? What animals and plants live in the waters around the island? How has the North Sea changed over time? And what impact will climate change have right on our doorstep in the future? These are just some of the questions to which the BLUEHOUSE HELGOLAND will provide visitors with answers in an interactive exhibition starting in 2024. An extensive range of exhibits will cover around 600 square meters and invite visitors to participate, discover and learn through play. By combining haptic and virtual content, BLUEHOUSE HELGOLAND will provide a whole new insight into the world of the North Sea and its exploration.
Scientists of the Alfred Wegener Institute have 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 the future, BLUEHOUSE HELGOLAND will be operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute, supported by the community of Helgoland. However, all those involved still have some work ahead of them until this point is reached: 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 deficiencies. Construction will now begin with the demolition of the old building in the spring. The exhibition is scheduled to open in 2024.
Contact Persons
Project lead:
Dr. Matthias Strasser
Bauleitung:
Marion Krüger
Scientific Lead:
Dr. Eva-Maria Brodte
Project team science:
Prof. Dr. Karen Wiltshire
Prof. Dr. Maarten Boersma
Prof. Dr. Philipp Fischer
Dr. Gunnar Gerdts
Prof. em. Dr. Peter Lemke
Dr. Cedric Meunier
Dr. Bernadette Pogoda
Dr. Antje Wichels
School laboratory:
Dr. Antje Wichels
Communications and Media Relations:
Roland Koch
Cooperation partner:
Gemeinde Helgoland
Verein Jordsand
Bluehouse Verein Helgoland
Architektur:
PASD Architekten
Ausstellungsplanung:
Studio klv
Funding:
Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), AWI, Gemeinde Helgoland, Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein