holzer kobler complete the reflective palaon research center

‘palaon research and experience center’ by holzer kobler architekturen, schoningen, germany
image © jan bitter
all images courtesy of holzer kobler architekturen

opening this july, the ‘palaon research and experience center by zurich and berlin-based practice holzer kobler architekturen embodies a site where 300,000 year-old spears -the oldest man-made hunting weapons found to date- were found in shoningen, germany. the faceted structure features a reflective skin marked by the various cuts and seams that delineate the facade panels and mirror the hilly landscape.  the experience of the exhibition is no doubt at the heart of the structure. the three-story foyer serves as a routing point for views and circulation, offering glimpses of the research facilities and exhibition spaces on the first floor and the distant coal mines. visiting the restaurant, shops, and educational areas leads one on a sequential journey through the layered building until reaching the top floors where current excavations and research can be witnessed in the laboratories integrated into the exhibition- turning the building into a real-time experience. 

image © jan bitter

view from the landscape
image © jan bitter

entry
image © jan bitter

reflective skin mirrors the landscape
image © jan bitter

faceted white exhibition area
image © jan bitter

(left) exhibition
(right) foyer
image © jan bitter

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project info:

location: paläon, forschungs- und erlebniszentrum schöninger speere
www.palaeon.de
opening: 24. juni 2013
floor space (total): 4.090 qm
floor space exhibition: 600 qm
total area incl. landscape: 240.000 qm
client: stadt schöningen
occupant: paläon gmbh
curator: niedersächsisches landesamt für denkmalpflege
architecture: holzer kobler architekturen, zürich/berlin, in collaboration with pbr ag, generalplaner, braunschweig
landscape architecture: topotek 1, berlin
exhibition design: holzer kobler architekturen, zürich/berlin
graphic design exhibition: holzer kobler architekturen, zürich/berlin
graphic production: pigmentpol sachsen gmbh, satz und reinzeichnung kerstin hübsch
media planning: jangled nerves, stuttgart
light planning: lichtvision design & engineering gmbh, berlin
implementation exhibition: seiwo technik gmbh, bel-tec gesellschaft für film-, theater-und ausstellungsbau mbh
fittings exhibits: id3d-berlin gmbh
artists installations: jens najewitz, stephan hüsch, misha shenbrot, alexej tchernyi, ekkehard runge
illustrations: benoit clary, wu zhio, christian meier zu ermgassen, simon schede