The new children’s room in the Natural History Museum
The newly designed Hall 16 combines the theme of the Ice Age with a world for children and was conceived over two years by a team from science, communication and architecture. The design is intended to create a bright, friendly and lively place that wants to be explored and invites visitors to stay. In addition to information and history, the focus is on knowledge that can be experienced and acquired through play — the hall is transformed into an Ice Age landscape.
In the center of the hall is a play area with seating steps and fixtures. A fireplace with a tent complements the Ice Age camp site, behind which the “Cave” and “Hunting” theme clusters are grouped. Everyday life is shown through tools, jewelry and objects of daily use — together with many hands-on objects.
Permanent exhibition, opening May 2025
“Ice Age children and their world. The New Children’s Hall“
Hall XVI, Natural History Museum Vienna, Burgring 7, Vienna
Curated by Mathias Harzhauser, Caroline Posch, Julia Landsiedl and Agnes Mair
Exhibition design and general planner:
Schuberth and Schuberth
Development of the interactive stations:
Schuberth und Schuberth
Team: Victoria Pichler (project management), Florian Schauhuber
Graphics: Stefan Fuhrer,
Lighting: Gunther Ferencsin-Junick
Scientific illustrations: bunterhund Illustration
Renderings: Ievgenii Kalinovych