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Immerse yourself in the world of marine research: the start of construction for the Bluehouse adventure exhibition on Helgoland is getting closer.

Project coordinator Matthias Strasser from the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) in Bremerhaven told the German Press Agency that the former aquarium, which had been closed since the end of 2014, is to be demolished in the second half of this year.

The 14 million euro Bluehouse project will be built there.

This new tourist magnet should open at the end of 2022, or at the latest in spring 2023.

Interactive and multimedia, the show aims to inspire science in four subject areas and explain the importance of Heligoland for research.

The operator AWI gives insights into the concept: "The North Sea is created" - this is the motto of the tour.

There is a surprise effect here: the visitors are transported to the time 8000 years ago and are on the dry side.

“Because Heligoland was not yet surrounded by the sea at that time,” reported Strasser.

In the “Discover under water” section, there is a huge aquarium with around 80,000 liters on the ground floor.

The visitor can virtually swim through an algae forest or control a diving robot himself.

There is currently little ferry traffic to Heligoland due to the pandemic situation

Source: dpa

One floor higher, the journey leads to the area “Research in the Felswatt”.

By means of a light and film production, visitors learn more about the tides: "Projectors give the impression that the water is rising," explained Strasser.

Visitors can also experiment for themselves on numerous interactive exhibits.

Finally, under the motto "Recognizing the future", it will be presented how research institutions are jointly looking for solutions to the problems of climate change.

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Natural history tours, lectures, the operation of a school laboratory and research projects in which interested laypeople can take part are also planned.

Coordinator Strasser brings a lot of experience from the expansion and operation of a similar project: The 55-year-old is the managing director of the Adventure Center Naturgewalten Sylt.

According to him, the aquarium had between 20,000 and 40,000 visitors a year.

Similar numbers are also being targeted for the Bluehouse, said Strasser.

From the outside, the three-storey bluehouse will look similar to the aquarium built in 1959, the substance of which is defective according to the AWI.

Because this house and the neighboring AWI research building form an overall architectural ensemble that is under monument protection.

A special permit had been granted for the demolition with the condition that the building be rebuilt in an optically identical manner, stressed Strasser.

In addition, a new, glass, shimmering bluish tower is to fill the currently 20 meter gap between the former aquarium and the research wing.

It will be the entrance to the approximately 650 square meter exhibition, whose cooperation partners are the municipality and the Jordsand association.

“The anticipation of the Heligoland and our guests for the opening of the Bluehouse is huge,” said Helgoland's Mayor Jörg Singer (non-party).

"Many people from our population, science and politics have contributed to the development of this showcase into the marine world around Heligoland." The financing is in place.

In addition to the municipality, the Federal Ministry of Research, the AWI and the state of Schleswig-Holstein are involved.