Searching for Tinkering: Technorama
Last weekend, while participating in an education conference at the Swiss Science Center Technorama in Winterthur, I made sure to take some time to explore the extensive exhibit halls and galleries. As part of an ongoing series of visits to places around the world that embody some aspect of the tinkering experience I wanted to share some impressions of this amazing science center.
The first thought that struck me as I navigated the jammed packed halls was the look and feel reminiscent of old Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts (where I started my career). Frank Oppenheimer wrote about the ideal science center experience as a walk through a forest and the density of playful and thought provoking exhibits at Technorama took on the feel of an old growth woods. Many of my favorite Exploratorium exhibits got cut during the process of moving to Pier 15 and I was so delighted to see versions some of these old friends on the floor of Technorama.
Many of the exhibits that are developed by outside artists and exhibit developers from Ned Kahn to Paul Spooner to Niklas Roy. I really liked how the exhibit label subtlety displayed the name of the makers and tinkerers, highlighting the fact that there’s an art to the designs. Another logistical element that I valued after the visit was the ability to look up the exhibit info, photos and labels online.
One of the hallmarks in my mind of a good science center experience is having the same phenomenon presented over and over again in different formats. This allows people to explore slight variations on a topic, see others playing and exploring and decide their own path. The expansive collection of wooden marble machines at Technorama by Pierre Andres that exemplifies that approach.
My home for the week was the museum’s Tinkering Studio, which repurposes many of the elements that we developed at the Exploratorium to create a really useful and practical space. There were two big ‘dog bone’ tables, storage closets, cabinets of curiosity that showed projects made in the space and a mini workshop in the back for last minute repairs.
A gallery with some classic tinkerable exhibits like wind table, marble machines and circuit boards surrounds the workshop. I also saw some new (to me) experiments like balancing forks and constructing with bendy tubes and blocks. I loved this collection of activities that related to the act of making and tinkering in more intense workshops.
For one of the sessions, led by exhibit developed Marco Miranda we got the chance to visit the exhibit shop downstairs which was full of tools and materials of all sizes and shapes. The arrangement of the museum leaves the workshop less exposed to the public as it is at the Exploratorium but they do have a clear (large!) prototyping space that is used to test out new ideas.
One of the most amazing parts of the science center is the outdoor area which contains an amazing collection of experiences that range from loud and slightly risky to contemplative and peaceful. I think having a green space with natural elements combined with science center exhibits provides an important way for people to relax, refresh and get reinspired to explore the exhibits.
The visit was super inspiring and I can safely say that Technorama is one of the best science centers in the world. If you’re in the area I definitely recommend checking out this wonderland of art, science and technology.