CosmoCaixa Barcelona

Coordinates: 41°24′47″N 2°07′52″E / 41.413056°N 2.131111°E / 41.413056; 2.131111

CosmoCaixa Barcelona
Established	1981
Location	Barcelona, Spain
Type	Science museum
Visitor figures	2,608,985 (2008)
Director	Anna Sanahuja
Public transit access	Avinguda Tibidabo
Website	Official website

CosmoCaixa Barcelona (Catalan pronunciation: [ˌkɔzmuˈkaʃə βərsəˈɫonə]) is a science museum located in Barcelona, Spain. Formerly known as the Science Museum of Barcelona, it closed for renovations in 1998 and reopened in 2004 under its current name. The museum features a variety of exhibitions, permanent and temporary, that showcase the environment, nature, science, and space. CosmoCaixa also has a planetarium and exhibitions devoted to interaction such as touch and play for small children. It also has a bookstore, gift shop, library, teaching center and cafe. The museum is sponsored by la Caixa.^[1]

Building

The building was built between 1904-1909 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 5th floor. The centerpiece of the walkway is an Amazonian tree.^[1]

Exhibitions

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]

Flooded Forest 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 100 living species are represented including birds, insects, frogs, piranhas, capybaras, and alligators.^[5]

Geological Wall 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 Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, and limestone from Besalú.^[6]

The Hall of Matter The Hall of Matter covers evolution starting with the Big Bang Theory. 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.^[7]

Clik and Flash 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! 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 An astronomy based exhibition for children ages 3–8.^[10]

Gallery

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  A child interacting with a lariat chain in The Hall of Matter

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  Charles Darwin in the exhibit Darwin observador, Darwin naturalista

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  Flooded Forest exhibition

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Rob (2011). "CosmoCaixa: Out of this world!". Out & About. Homage to BCN. http://www.homagetobcn.com/cosmocaixa-barcelona/. Retrieved 16 Jun 2011. 
2. ^ "The building". The museum. CosmoCaixa. 2011. http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/nuestroscentros/cosmocaixabarcelona/elmuseo_ca.html. Retrieved 16 Jun 2011. 
3. ^ "CosmoCaixa - Science Museum". Museums. Turisme de Barcelona. 2011. http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/ECV2TBCN/Front/BCNShop/Sales/Disponibilitat-Producte/_vf-SMlY1yItM-U_l9RgLJgsyU0uRJi84oqzmun5PYekNluCjbm1yCPU3Bv1RpkB2_bNItwM3UCE7ZbR43sV_g8rU6NcphAS-RzqSleBoFcA. Retrieved 16 Jun 2011. 
4. ^ "Science Plaza". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/nuestroscentros/cosmocaixabarcelona/plazadelaciencia_ca.html. Retrieved 16 Jun 2011. 
5. ^ "The Flooded Forest". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/nuestroscentros/cosmocaixabarcelona/bosqueinundado_ca.html. Retrieved 16 Jun 2011. 
6. ^ "The Geological Wall". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/nuestroscentros/cosmocaixabarcelona/murogeologico_ca.html. Retrieved 16 Jun 2011. 
7. ^ "The Hall of Matter". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/nuestroscentros/cosmocaixabarcelona/salamateria_ca.html. Retrieved 16 Jun 2011. 
8. ^ "Flash Clik". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/nuestroscentros/cosmocaixabarcelona/clikyflash_ca.html. Retrieved 16 Jun 2011. 
9. ^ "He plays touch!". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/nuestroscentros/cosmocaixabarcelona/tocatoca_ca.html. Retrieved 16 Jun 2011. 
10. ^ "Bubble Planetarium". Permanent Sites. CosmoCaixa Barcelona. 2011. http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/nuestroscentros/cosmocaixabarcelona/planetarioburbuja_ca.html. Retrieved 16 Jun 2011.