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CosmoCaixa Barcelona

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CosmoCaixa Barcelona
Map
Former name
Science Museum of Barcelona
Established1981
LocationBarcelona, Spain
Coordinates41°24′47″N 2°07′52″E / 41.413056°N 2.131111°E / 41.413056; 2.131111
TypeScience museum
Visitors2.424 visitors per day (2020)
DirectorValentí Farràs
Public transit accessAvinguda Tibidabo
Websitewww.cosmocaixa.com

CosmoCaixa Barcelona (Catalan pronunciation: [ˌkɔzmuˈkaʃə βəɾsəˈlonə]) is a science museum located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It features a variety of exhibitions, permanent and temporary, devoted to the environment, nature, science, and space. The museum is sponsored by "La Caixa" banking foundation.

Formerly known as the Science Museum of Barcelona, it closed for renovations in 1998 and reopened in 2004 under its current name. It has interactive exhibitions such as touch and play for small children, planetarium, bookstore, gift shop, library, teaching center, and café.[1] Entry to the museum is free for students under sixteen. Adults too can enjoy at the museum with an entry ticket of six euros.

Building

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The building was built between 1904 and 1909 by Josep Domènech i Estapà to serve as an asylum for the blind which closed in 1979. The building was renovated, retaining the original facade, and an expansion took place bringing the building to four times its original size.[2] An expansion of the building took place in 2004.[3] CosmoCaixa has a large spiral walkway that takes visitors from the basement to the fifth floor. The centerpiece of the walkway is an Amazonian tree.[1]

Exhibitions

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CosmoCaixa has permanent and temporary exhibitions. It also houses a planetarium and has a free public square that allows the public to experience natural science through interactive exhibitions.[4] Entry tickets to the Planetarium are four euros for both adults and students. Tickets can also be bought at the museum on the first floor.

Flooded Forest

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A flooded forest which allows visitors to experience wet and dry environs of an Amazon rainforest. Ceiba trees are reproduced based on molds created by museum staff in Pará, Brazil. More than a hundred living species are represented including birds, insects, frogs, piranhas, capybaras, and alligators.[5]

Geological Wall

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Large cuts of geological formations are displayed along a wall showing erosion, volcanism, faults, sedimentation and related processes. The cuts of rock on display are primarily from Catalonia including potassium salt from Súria, sandstone from Berga and Mallorca, volcanic materials from Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Natural Park, and limestone from Besalú.[6]

The Universe Hall

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The Universe's Hall, which is the main space in the museum, shows a tour starting with the Big Bang to the most actuality themes, including modern medicine, wastes and robotics, throw the human evolution and other shapes of evolution and science. They all are shown by interactive modules that make easier their comprehension.[7]

Clik and Flash

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One of three interactive based exhibitions for young children, Clik and Flash uses games to encourage children to learn about science. The space is split into two rooms; Clik uses play, observation and deduction through smell, touch and sight and Flash uses technology to showcase exploration, environments, construction and electricity.[8]

Touch, touch!

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Touch, touch! houses living creatures from around the world and the Mediterranean. Museum staff and scientists present animals and plants from three environments.[9]

Bubble Planetarium

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An astronomy based exhibition for children ages 3–8.[10]

Past exhibitions - historical spaces

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Touch, touch!

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Touch, touch! houses living creatures from around the world and the Mediterranean. Museum staff and scientists present animals and plants from three environments.[9]

The Hall of Matter

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The Hall of Matter covers evolution starting with the Big Bang. It is broken into four sections: the origin of matter, the first living organism, the conquest of "symbolic intelligence", and the birth of civilization. The exhibit touches on gravitational wave, chaos theory, biology, mobility, neurons, intelligence and human evolution.[11]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Rob (2011). "CosmoCaixa: Out of this world!". Out & About. Homage to BCN. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  2. ^ "The building". The museum. CosmoCaixa. 2011. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  3. ^ "CosmoCaixa - Science Museum". Museums. Turisme de Barcelona. 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  4. ^ "Science Plaza". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  5. ^ "The Flooded Forest". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  6. ^ "The Geological Wall". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Sala Univers | Activitats CosmoCaixa Barcelona". cosmocaixa.org (in Catalan). Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Flash Clik". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. Archived from the original on 19 August 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  9. ^ a b "He plays touch!". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  10. ^ "Bubble Planetarium". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  11. ^ "The Hall of Matter". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  12. ^ Antonio Madridejos, "Trix, la reina de los tiranosaurios, conquista CosmoCaixa", El Periódico, Barcelona, 27 October 2017 (in Spanish)
  13. ^ Elsa Velasco, "Trix, la reina de los tiranosaurios, llega a CosmoCaixa", La Vanguardia, Barcelona, 27 October 2017 (in Spanish)
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Media related to CosmoCaixa Barcelona at Wikimedia Commons

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