Exposition Lab City

Baiba Berzina

• Architects

Science center's VIZIUM exposition Lab City is made as a combination of science and contemporary design with its own strong identity. White space creates associations with the laboratory or spacecraft of the future and is an equally attractive environment for discovering the magic of science for both children and adults. At the same time, the space created in one style differs in each gallery with the spatial experience and the shape of the volumes. The proposed color of the walls and exhibits is mainly black and white to allow the light, multimedia technologies and their colorful content to stand out.

photo_credit Baiba Berzina — Baiba Berzina

The exhibits are grouped according to the type of their use. It opens up opportunities to create both the volumes of differently integrated objects and the various open public spaces - miniature city of laboratories. Just as the city has streets and squares, here are corridors and open spaces.

A varied and changing spatial experience is offered to the visitor upon entering the exhibition hall. The relatively closed corridor between the Smart Technology Gallery and the Physics and Mathematics Gallery leads to the extensive Geography and the World Gallery and the Human Self-Perception Gallery. Then, bypassing the free-standing simulators, the journey continues through the zigzag zone of the Healthy Lifestyle Gallery. Just as there are shortcuts in the city, it is possible to reach the galleries along several short corridors (Projection Tunnel, Laser Labyrinth, Kaleidoscope Tunnel).

The Physics and Mathematics Gallery is the first to be encountered by a visitor entering the large exhibition hall. Several of its exhibits are arranged as free-standing columns, as the exhibits in this gallery are often objects that require access from several sides. The row of columns marks the perimeter of the gallery and, together with the Smart Technology Gallery, forms the entrance and exit corridor rooms of the exhibition hall.

In the Smart Technology Gallery, video projections are used in several exhibits, which, in turn, requires a closed and dark room. Therefore, this gallery is separated by walls on both sides of the exhibition hall, deviating from the visually strong column of the exhibition hall.

The Human Self-perception Gallery is created next to the Kaleidoscope tunnel. It mainly requires displays, the lowest of which is located on the wall of the kaleidoscope tunnel, towards the center of the exhibition hall. In turn, the high displays are arranged in three separate free-standing volumes, which continue the shape of the Kaleidoscope Tunnel. The Geography and World Gallery has been created as an extensive meeting place. Simulators are designed as free-standing objects.

On the right side of the entrance hall of the science center there is the Kid’s Zone. The exhibits in it are designed in color, unlike other galleries, to create a more attractive environment for the youngest visitors of the Science Center.