PRESS RELEASE

19.01.2023

Newly opened: The Demokratikum
The Visitor Centre of the Austrian Parliament

Understanding and experiencing democracy: Visitors to the Austrian Parliament building in Vienna are greeted by an informative and intuitively designed exhibition where they can experience and learn about all aspects of democracy in Austria: The "Demokratikum – Experience Parliament".

The visitor centre, designed by ATELIER BRÜCKNER, presents the political and historical themes in an accessible and engaging way. It invites visitors to explore and discover for themselves. Combined with a sense of fun, the content becomes easy to understand. "Our aim is to explain how democracy is the political foundation of our common life. Our presentations and interactive exhibits help to bring an abstract concept to life," says René Walkenhorst, Partner at ATELIER BRÜCKNER.

The Demokratikum addresses people of all ages and educational levels. The physical structure of the exhibition and its content are fully accessible. 27 interactive media stations offer a hands-on approach to politics, history and architecture. These are accompanied by tactile stations and audio texts that engage all the senses.

Parliament Building

The 1,500-square-metre visitor centre is a key feature to the neoclassical Parliament building by architect Theophil Hansen, located at Vienna's Ringstrasse. The building has undergone an extensive renovation over the past five years and is now open to the public. The fully accessible visitor entrance is located right in the middle of the ground floor, just behind the Pallas Athena Fountain.

The exhibition is housed in three newly designed spaces by Jabornegg & Pálffy, the architects responsible for the entire renovation of the building. In addition to the Agora, the main hall, there are the Forum and the Auditorium. Another exhibition space is located in the historic library behind the Agora. Entitled "Talking Tacheles" (straight talking), it is about anti-Semitism in Austria.

A sectional architectural model of the Parliament building in the passageway leading to the Demokratikum opens the invitation to explore: It illustrates the history of the building by overlaying the model with transparent OLED screen animations. They show the evolution of the building from its construction between 1874 and 1883, through the partial reconstruction after the Second World War, to the major renovation programme agreed in 2014.

Agora

The main room in the Demokratikum is the Agora, a 900 square metre hall with two rows of supporting pillars running the length of the room. In the middle of the hall is the "Aktuell im Parlament" (what's on in Parliament) information station. Here visitors can find out what is happening in the National Council and Federal Council, read about the decisions taken there and get the latest news from the Parliament itself. The information is complemented by tactile stations with floor plans and models. Visitors get an overview of the functions and locations of the various rooms in the building.

An 18-metre-long display wall along the left side of the Agora presents the history of democracy in Austria. Four sliding screens provide information about the photographs and objects on display, including a facsimile of the February Patent, the 1861 charter for a constitutional monarchy. Visitors can bring the static images to life by accessing explanatory films, texts and animations. In this way, they can actively immerse themselves in the history of Austrian parliamentarism from its beginnings in 1848 to the present day.

The right-hand wall of the Agora, entitled "We are Democracy", is dedicated to Austrian citizens and their representatives. Four media stations show short videos of individual Austrian citizens expressing their wishes and thoughts. It's all about democracy and politics, the work of parliamentarians and the commitment of citizens – after all, democracy concerns us all! Visitors can become a part of the exhibition by taking a picture of themselves and placing it on the panoramic video wall.

The content of two long media tables extends the themes introduced by the walls: one allows visitors to explore key moments from 170 years of democratic history. The second is a playful introduction to the wide range of professional activities that take place under the roof of the Parliament building. Procedures and technical terms are presented interactively: visitors can tap on individual figures, such as a plenary speaker or a technician working for the Parliament's administration and follow them as they move around the building.

Two media tables with the same content are also located in the "Plenarium". This newly created public space is located above the National Council Chamber. It offers visitors a view of political events from above.

Auditorium

Next to the Agora are the Auditorium and the Forum. The Auditorium, used for press conferences, is dedicated to the fourth power: the press and news media. Visitors can see the interplay between politics and the media; in particular the traditional media outlets and new social platforms. What role do they play in our democracy? How is political discourse changing in an increasingly digital world?

The 13-square-metre LED wall at the back of the room shows live coverage of plenary sessions and footage of inaccessible areas of the building. Alternating photo exhibitions complement the room program.

Forum

Opposite the Auditorium, in the Forum, an impressive, eye-catching media installation invites the visitors to talk to the Presidents of the National Council and Federal Council and the party leaders. Each one of them greets the visitors and gives them personal answers to selected questions. Visitors can find out, for example, why each one of them entered politics and what they consider to be Austria's greatest successes.

Visitors young and old can test and improve their knowledge of the parliament, elections and laws at a quiz table in the centre of the room. Up to five people can play at the same time. The quizzes cover topics such as the parliament itself, its tasks, the involvement of citizens, the history of democracy in Austria, the parliament building, the state and the constitution, the media and the public, and democracy today.

On the long walls, visitors can find information about important social issues on which MEPs have already voted on, such as "Should assisted suicide be allowed?" or "Should there be a general ban on donations to political parties?" Visitors' votes are compared with those of MEPs.

Other stations explain the legislative process, the different ways of participating in elections, the principle of the separation of powers and parliamentary control systems. Children (and adults too) can playfully simulate the daily life of a politician on a screen.

There are even more children's stations in the Agora: young visitors can discover the history of democracy in Austria in a hidden object game and learn more about their legally guaranteed rights as children. An explorer's passport guides young people to the children's stations, which are marked in yellow. They can collect stamps in the booklet and take their memories home with them.

Accessibility

The Demokratikum is open every day except Sundays and public holidays. The Demokratikum gives visitors access to the impressive historic building with its listed chambers and the new restaurant on the top floor. The roof terrace offers spectacular views of Vienna's city centre, the first district with Heldenplatz and the Hofburg.

ATELIER BRÜCKNER is one of the world's leading exhibition design studios. Founded in 1997, the company is managed by Shirin Brückner, Prof. Eberhard Schlag, Britta Nagel, Stefanie Klinge and René Walkenhorst. 120 employees contribute to the development of narrative spaces for museums, brand centres and visitor centres. Current projects include the "Europa Experience" exhibition for the European Parliament in Vienna and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. The company focuses on presenting content as an immersive experience.

INFORMATION Follow this link for photos (jpg_300 dpi) and floor plans:
https://www.atelier-brueckner.com/en/demokratikum-experience-parliament
Please note the rights of use.

Parliament website:
www.oeparl2023.at