Techniquest

A thoughtful design-led approach

August 9, 2021

By HLM Architects

What better way to celebrate the end of the Welsh lockdown, than a trip to the newly expanded Techniquest Science and Discovery Centre?

Our team at HLM were delighted to be chosen to reimagine this prominent cultural building. The newly-transformed venue technically opened last autumn, but closed again within just a few weeks as lockdowns were reimposed; so visitor numbers have been sadly limited until recently. Now, this fantastic enhancement to Cardiff Bay can be fully enjoyed by the public, albeit with slightly reduced capacities at the moment, and not just admired as a distant, eye-catching landmark.

One of the UK’s longest established science and discovery centres, our redesign brief of Techniquest was to celebrate the heritage of the site, while creating an immersive, contemporary venue that appeals to audiences of all ages. We chose a bold, origami-inspired building ‘envelope’ to wrap elements of the older building, relocate the entrance, and give a fresh, inviting appearance to the centre. Glazed elements were carefully arranged within the ‘envelope’ to allow glimpses inside, enticing visitors. The reimagined building features double the exhibition space, and includes striking double-height spaces to the rear, which house a dual-purpose mezzanine.

Throughout the project, we have utilised our ‘thoughtful design’ approach, to delight end users by bringing excitement to science in an original way. The process involved creating multiple user movement flowcharts — for different user groups, including school children’s groups, parents with young children, independent adults, and staff — to ensure that all future uses of the building would be catered to. We then assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the original building’s design and made improvements while maintaining and enhancing authentic features where possible.

For ease of access and safety, we relocated the entrance away from the busy road, reducing the danger of traffic for visitors entering and exiting the building. Cladding material of the building ‘envelope’ is inspired by the industrial history of the site, while a mix of high-quality hard and soft materials feature in the surrounding landscape, reflecting and complimenting those of the building and its location.

The result is an instantly recognisable building, with improved layout and form, which is a valuable addition to the Cardiff landscape. A proud celebration of local history and science, the new and improved Techniquest provides interest and excitement, and fulfils the ethos of giving opportunities for thoughtfulness and discovery.

Our Studio Director, Gareth Woodfin, summed up the team’s involvement in the centre’s development:

“The contemporary design draws on the extensive experience of our team and offers visitors a vibrant and exciting space that is flexible, active, and relevant. We feel privileged having played a part in the reimagining of this much-loved centre and are pleased to see it now fully realised.”


 

Find us

  • Techniquest, Stuart Street, Cardiff, CF10 5BW

Contact us

  • info@techniquest.org
  • 029 2047 5475
    Mon–Fri: 9am–5pm Sat–Sun: 10am–5pm
    While we always endeavour to answer calls, when the centre is busy it may not always be possible.
    If you leave us a message we will respond to you as quickly as we can.

Opening hours

  • Techniquest’s opening hours vary — visit the Opening Times page to find out the current hours.

Charity & company

Newsletter Signup

Get the latest news from Techniquest direct to your email inbox.

FAQs

  •   What is Techniquest?

    Techniquest is an educational charity, with a science centre in Cardiff Bay. Our mission is to embed science in Welsh culture through interactive engagement. We provide a range of services to schools and teachers to complement formal education provision in Wales and work extensively with public audiences.

  •   Where can I park?

    We are pleased to be able to offer all of our visitors discounted parking with Q-Park, our preferred parking partner.

    The Q-Park operates the Cardiff Bay car park in Pierhead Street which is around 8 minutes walk from Techniquest.

    We have agreed a special discount rate for our customers of 15% off all pre-bookings.
    Pre-book and guarantee your space here using the code TECHNI15.

    There are also nearby pay-and-display car parks on Stuart Street and Havannah Street. Please do not park on Havannah Street itself.

    We regret that there is no parking on-site at Techniquest.

  •   Who is it for?

    Techniquest is suitable for all ages! We do have special events for certain groups, however — see Toddler Days and Home Educator days.

  • I have a different question.

    Please see our dedicated FAQ page.

  • logo
  • logo
  • logo
  • logo
  • logo
  • logo
  • logo
  • logo
  • logo