NAWAREUM

In the charming town of Straubing, nestled in the picturesque region of Bavaria, Germany, lies a hidden gem that brilliantly combines education, sustainability, and interactive fun—the NAWAREUM. This innovative museum is dedicated to the themes of sustainability, climate change, renewable resources, and renewable energies, offering a unique experience for visitors of all ages.

The Concept of NAWAREUM

The name NAWAREUM stands for Renewable Resources and Renewable Energies in the Museum, and it truly lives up to its name. This museum is not just about passive observation; it’s a hands-on experience that encourages visitors to engage with the exhibits actively. The NAWAREUM is part of the Technology and Support Center in the Competence Center for Renewable Resources, a research institution of the Free State of Bavaria.

The Permanent Exhibition

The permanent exhibition at NAWAREUM covers a wide range of topics, including climate change, earth history, plants, nutrition, renewable resources, and renewable energies. The museum adopts a didactic approach that goes beyond merely presenting facts through texts and images. Instead, it aims to make connections tangible through multisensory exhibits and experiments. Visitors can explore tactile and interactive exhibits, watch informative films, and engage with both digital and analog games.

The exhibition content is designed for adults and teenagers aged 12 and older, but there are also specially marked stations for children between 6 and 11 years old. All texts are available in both German and English, and the video stations also offer a version in German Sign Language, ensuring accessibility for all visitors.

One of the standout interactive stations is the controllable water cycle exhibit, featuring various types of hydropower plants. Visitors can also experiment with a wind tunnel, where they can assemble miniature wind turbines and test their efficiency. Most exhibition areas are equipped with touchscreens that provide videos, additional information, or quizzes. There are also two hybrid game tables where museum guests can collaborate in small groups. In one game, players must supply an island with different types of renewable energy, finding the optimal energy sources for various locations. In the other game, participants take on the role of farmers managing their fields while balancing biodiversity and economic viability.

The Herbar Wall

A unique feature of the NAWAREUM is the Herbar Wall, which displays over 80 dried plant species, all of which are renewable resources. The herbarium is divided into several groups: trees, dye plants, energy plants, starch plants, textile plants, medicinal plants, and spice plants. Visitors can learn more about each plant using tablets, filter them by categories, and view photos of living specimens as well as their uses.

The Garden

The garden at NAWAREUM is an integral part of the museum's overall concept. It is always freely accessible, with barrier-free paths. The garden is designed with multiple purposes in mind: it showcases renewable resources featured in the permanent exhibition in real life and through the changing seasons; it is designed to provide food and habitat for urban wildlife, thereby increasing biodiversity; and it serves as a natural oasis for relaxation for both museum guests and the local population.

Sustainable Building and Technology

The building itself is the largest exhibit at NAWAREUM, offering visitors inspiration for sustainable construction projects. The State Building Authority of Passau acted as the developer, aiming to combine the requirements of a museum building with the energy standards of a passive house. The construction predominantly uses renewable resources to minimize the CO2 emissions of the project. While concrete production emits large amounts of CO2, wood absorbs CO2 from the air as it grows, acting as a long-term carbon sink. Therefore, the museum is constructed in solid wood, except for the foundation and stairwells.

The building's heating and cooling are provided by 40 geothermal probes connected to a heat pump system, along with 130 square meters of solar thermal collectors on the roof, which can both heat and cool using an adiabatic cooling system. A 270 square meter photovoltaic system on the roof generates electricity, covering most of the building's energy needs with renewable energy. Any additional required electricity or heat is also sourced from renewable sources, saving approximately 83 tons of CO2 annually compared to the conventional energy mix. The building meets the passive house standard, featuring effective insulation of the outer walls, floor, and roof, triple-glazed windows, and modern ventilation technology with heat recovery.

Art and Architecture

The south facade of the building is adorned with 79 free-standing larch trunks, a gift from the Bavarian State Forests from nearby Bodenmais. The trunks symbolize an avenue along the glass facade and a forest clearing in front of the main entrance, conveying the theme of renewable resources externally.

As part of the construction project, the Free State of Bavaria allocated €120,000 for art in the building. The artist Tom Kristen won a public competition with his artwork Wave, consisting of 900 recycled bottles that he collected himself and integrated into a complex light artwork. About 20 percent of the bottles are inscribed with terms from various quotes on environmental protection and sustainability, encouraging viewers to add their own definitions and values, according to the artist.

Events and Activities

NAWAREUM regularly hosts guided tours, workshops, lectures, readings, discussions, and concerts. A unique feature is the monthly event series called TauschBar. On the first Thursday of each month, different items are exchanged, such as clothing, books, seeds and plants, or kitchen items. Participation is free, and the series follows the principle that it is more sustainable to exchange and reuse items rather than throwing them away and buying new ones, contributing to waste reduction and sustainable consumption.

In conclusion, the NAWAREUM in Straubing is not just a museum; it is an educational and recreational hub that inspires visitors to think about sustainability and renewable resources in a fun and interactive way. Whether you are a local resident or a tourist, a visit to NAWAREUM promises a rich and engaging experience that will leave you with a deeper understanding of and appreciation for our planet and the efforts needed to protect it.