Here, visitors can explore the evolution of life in an impressive combination of live animals and natural history exhibits: a project boasting contemporary, interactive and educational value.

Wave-shaped furniture and high-quality wall elements characterise the entire exhibition, allowing visitors to literally flow through the venue. In keeping with the storyline, the colours change from blue to green to brown. Aquariums, terrariums and natural history objects are embedded in the wall elements and clearly arranged by content. Round elements in the middle of the bays illustrate the respective question under discussion.

What triggers animal species to move from one habitat to another? And what do they need to do to adjust? We combined the three main habitats of salt water, fresh water and land to create a continuously staged tour of evolution. The exhibition reconstructs how life transitioned from salt water to fresh water, how freshwater animals went ashore, and finally how some species migrated back from land to water. The focus of our storyline lies on the transitions that were so crucial to their evolution.

Theodor Löbbecke, a pioneer of nature research who lent his name to the Aquazoo, and Fred the  little mudjumper accompany the visitors on their tour. For our animated films, we designed them in such a way as to render each an ‘expert’ in his own right – one is cute and lively, while the other is a bit eccentric and very knowledgeable. Together, they make for an entertaining team. Providing an introduction to each new habitat, Löbbecke explains evolution from a scientist’s perspective. Fred, on the other hand, considers everything from a practical point of view: As an amphibian, he can thrive in salt water, in fresh water and on land. Pared down to the bare essentials, visitors are introduced to complex topics in an accessible format and can experience them via interactive exhibits.