Exterior rendering of a research and visitor centre featuring a vertically structured façade, a transparent ground floor and a publicly accessible forecourt.

DESYUM Visitor Centre Hamburg

Interior rendering of a spacious foyer with a sculptural staircase, multi‑storey atrium walkways and an open visitor area.

Giving Form to Science

DESYUM is the physical interface between cutting-edge research and the public. As a reception, exhibition and dialogue centre, it creates a place that makes science and research tangible: open, transparent and welcoming.

At a Glance

Landmark for the DESY campus and Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld

Interface between research and the public

Particle aesthetics in the façade inspired by track detectors and accelerator paths

Spatial dramaturgy shaped by a circular atrium and sculptural stair

Exchange and Identity

With more than 10,000 visitors each year and over 3,000 international guest researchers, DESY is a global hub of science. The new visitor centre responds to this dynamic. It brings together reception, exhibition and event spaces within a compact cubic volume, and strengthens the identity of the campus as part of the emerging Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld.

Design Research

The design is closely linked to science. Vertical anodized aluminum lamellae reference the circular paths of classical electron accelerators. The façade structure recalls the drift chamber, a high-precision measuring instrument on the DESY campus. Inside and out, architecture becomes a carrier of scientific symbolism.

Sculptural Presence

As a compact cube with a clear outline and gold-colored lamellae, DESYUM sets a distinctive accent within the green campus surroundings. The open ground-floor zone with bistro and bookshop creates an inviting gesture and connects interior and exterior spaces. A sculptural spiral staircase and the circular atrium form the heart of the building.

Diverse Uses, Clear Organisation

The internal organization of DESYUM follows a clear logic. Open exhibition areas are arranged around the atrium, staging science not only informatively but spatially. These open spatial concepts are combined with clearly structured office areas for training, meetings and workplaces.

Project Profile

Project: DESYUM Visitor Centre
Location: Hamburg
Client: Deutsches Elektronen‑Synchrotron DESY
Completion: 2026

Axonometric top view of a campus area with interconnected pathways, a central research building and adjacent educational facilities.