Techniquest, Cardiff
Techniquest is Wales’ largest science discovery centre and a destination for over 100 experiential exhibits. As a growing attraction, the charity was finding a mismatch in the space dedicated to their café and shop and wanted to move their entrance towards the Cardiff Bay waterfront.
Techniquest’s shop is a hidden gem, filled with science toys and gadgets for children, and as much a part of the experience as the exhibits before it. As part of the remodelling, we moved the shop into the larger space previously reserved for the café. This allowed room for demonstration tables and display areas, as well as cementing the shop’s place as the final stop on a visit to the centre.
The new café is a destination for on-the-go refreshments, a reflection of the young families visiting the centre who were favouring the shop and snacks over sitting in for a meal.
Now facing the Bay, visitors can enter the reception straight into the heart of the building. Directly onwards, we created a ‘Show Portal’ - a lit up gathering point for groups to meet before entering the centre’s lecture theatre or, its best kept secret, a planetarium.
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Walk into Techniquest from Cardiff Bay and buy a ticket at the reception behind which is an impressive digital display showing daily events and attractions. As you go further into the building, you will see the Show Portal where groups gather for events and the shop beyond it. The shop is an exciting space, especially for children! It is full of toys and science kits at a low level where they can be touched and played with. In the day, you can look out from the shop across the Bay and, at night, it is lit with sparkly LED lighting. To the right from here are Techniquest’s popular exhibits and, to the left, is the new café, a simple stop on your visit for coffee and light refreshments.
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Client: Techniquest
Location: Cardiff
Status: Completed (2014)
Contract value: £100,000
