MUSEUM MENSCH UND NATUR
BECOMES BIOTOPIA

A museum is changing

Since its opening in 1990, the Museum Mensch und Natur has been one of Munich's most popular and well-attended museums. Due to the very limited space and poor infrastructure, the museum will close in 2021 in order to be comprehensively expanded and renovated. With a completely new concept and under the new name BIOTOPIA-Naturkundemuseum Bayern it will be an innovative museum and forum for life sciences and the environment.

"The extension and reconception of the Museum Mensch und Natur creates a new institution for the understanding and appreciation of nature, which will attract attention far beyond Bavaria".

Dr. Michael Apel
Director of Museum Mensch und Natur

BIOTOPIA: A museum of life

Explore life, change perspectives and take responsibility for ecological challenges: This is BIOTOPIA's mission. For this purpose, BIOTOPIA has developed a modern approach structuring behaviours, activities and living processes that connect humans and other living beings with each other. "Eat", "Move", "Sleep" and "Communicate" are some its central themes. By understanding humans as parts, explorers, users and designers of their environment, BIOTOPIA can offer something for all age groups and educational groups.

"Many of the most significant challenges we now face as a species on this planet, from climate change to loss of biodiversity, are due in large part to an imbalance in the relationship between humans and other living species."

Prof. Dr. Michael John Gorman
BIOTOPIA Founding Director

BIOTOPIA Lab - a taste of the new museum

The BIOTOPIA Lab in the Botanical Garden will open in 2021. After the Museum Mensch und Natur closes, it will serve as an intermediate space for the public during construction time. The BIOTOPIA Lab gives a taste of the future museum: Both attractive offers for school classes as well as open labs and workshops, temporary exhibitions and events aimed at a broader public. In addition, the family-friendly BIOTOPIA Festival and the Bavaria-wide mobile programme will make BIOTOPIA come alive.

Go to BIOTOPIA Lab

The new buidling

In the architectural competition for BIOTOPIA, the renowned Berlin office Staab Architekten convinced the jury with its design. The new building combines harmoniously with the ensemble of the Nymphenburg Palace, meets the requirements of a modern museum and sastisfies modern standards of sustainability and energy efficiency. A total of 13,000 square meters will then be available for permanent and special exhibitions, open visitor labs, bio- and ecosystem observatories, a designated children's area, seminar rooms, an auditorium, catering and a shop as well as administration rooms.

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Support BIOTOPIA

BIOTOPIA-Naturkundemuseum Bayern is supported by the Free State of Bavaria, represented by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and Art. Förderkreis BIOTOPIA e.V., BIOTOPIA's association of friends and patrons, supports this once in a lifetime project. It invites young and old to give the project a boost with a membership or donation, thereby becoming actively and critically involved in the realization of a space of learning and experience that encourages all of us to take responsibility for the future of our planet.

Become a member

Museum Mensch und Natur becomes BIOTOPIA

Dr. Michael Apel
Director of Museum Mensch und Natur

Programs Museum Mensch und Natur / BIOTOPIA

Von A wie Amerika bis Z wie Zeit – 30 Jahre Sonderausstellungen

July 7, 2020- December 30, 2020

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Alle Zeit der Welt - Vom Urknall bis zur Uhrzeit

December 06, 2019 - December 30, 2020

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BIOTOPIA Lab

Opening 2nd, November 2020