Artificial Intelligence Pavilion

Experimenta Science Centre – Heilbronn – Germany

AI: Insights and Visions

At Experimenta, Germany’s largest science center, a remarkable new pavilion has opened, presenting insights and perspectives on artificial intelligence (AI). Visitors can experience the fascinating world of AI in the heart of Heilbronn, not just focusing on technological milestones but also on trying out AI in practice. It offers a first glimpse behind the scenes of the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI), that currently under development. Designed by NorthernLight, the exhibition ‘AI: Insights and Visions,’ now on display, offers an introduction to the groundbreaking impact of artificial intelligence and illustrates how it’s reshaping our world. Developed in close partnership with the Experimenta team, along with Bruns and YIPP, it provides an introduction to AI’s evolution and its future potential.

The source of AI is human

The central design concept of the exhibition is inspired by the name ‘Heilbronn’ itself: ‘The source of AI is human.’ It emphasizes AI’s role as a human helper. “This exhibition aims to demystify AI, using simple language and interactive experiences. If you were to ask the average person on the street about AI, chances are they lack a basic understanding of its principles. This presents significant challenges,” says Steven Schaeken, director of NorthernLight. The exhibition offers an introduction to AI’s past, its meteoric rise, and future initiatives in the city. A timeline has stories on the longstanding presence of digitization and AI. Visitors are encouraged to engage with AI technologies firsthand at interactive stations. Additionally, a future wall with round arch portals offers insights into the Innovation Park. Here, people can meet their ‘new neighbors’ of the IPAI campus. In the middle of the exhibition, the central seating sculpture literally brings humans into the center. Here you experience how different information from the exhibition is transformed into an ever-changing soundscape with the help of AI. The source, with its soundscape, sends out animated light waves to the light rings in the pavilion and brings the idea of the human-centered source to life.

Welcoming space design

The exhibition is housed in a newly constructed, reusable timber-frame pavilion, easily accessible from a public space. Our spatial exhibition design intentionally creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, moving away from the often cold and impersonal imagery typically associated with AI. “The idea of ‘The source of AI is human’ has been translated into concentric rings that form the basis of a consistent design language throughout the pavilion, which is friendly and light”, according to Maximilian Pecher, Lead Creative. Felt, wood, recycled and transparent material in warm, light tones offer an unexpected take on the image of AI, creating a more human sense of space.

Sustainable timber-frame pavilion

Sustainability characterizes the temporary AI Pavilion, designed by the renowned architectural firm Sauerbruch Hutton. The pavilion’s lightweight timber structure is fully prefabricated, enabling flexible assembly and reuse at various locations. Timber, as a renewable material, binds CO2, creates a pleasant spatial atmosphere, and is highly recyclable. Prefabrication and modular design ensure efficient material use and simplify component recycling.

Client

Experimenta Science Center

Location

Heillbronn, Germany

NorthernLight role

Concept, content strategy, spatial design, visual design, experience design, creative quality control

NorthernLight core team

Steven Schaeken, Maximilian Pecher (lead), Marta Saccocci

Production

Bruns

Multimedia interactives

YIPP