What do a bicycle frame, a microchip and a skyscraper have in common? They are all made of materials that can do more than you might think at first glance. The new permanent exhibition
Material Worlds at the Vienna Museum of Science and Technology focuses on precisely these materials: their origins, their processing – and their role as drivers of technical innovation.
Materials surround us constantly, often unnoticed. They shape our cities, are found in our devices, and enable communication, mobility and progress. In 13 themed islands covering 3,000 square metres, the new permanent exhibition explores the diversity of materials that shape our everyday lives. The exhibition shows how materials – from aluminium, concrete and plastic to rare earths and steel – are extracted or manufactured at great expense and what ecological consequences their use entails. Traditional knowledge meets current research and innovative processes, with an increasing focus on sustainability. Every material is part of a complex system. The exhibition highlights how closely materials are linked to social change and technological development.
Part of the exhibition is also the machine wall, which clearly shows how materials are shaped. Forging, welding, milling, casting or pressing – each manufacturing technology gives a material its function and shape. This becomes particularly tangible in the example of the bicycle, where a wide variety of processes come together. Whether it's a milled chainring, welded frame, forged pedal or injection-moulded plastic handles – each part is the result of a precise production step. The machine wall clearly shows how closely production technology, material selection and design are linked – both yesterday and today.
