Evoluon, Eindhoven

The Evoluon is one of Eindhoven’s most distinctive landmarks, a UFO-shaped structure that has fascinated visitors since its construction in 1966. Built by the electronics giant Philips as a science museum, the Evoluon quickly became a symbol of innovation in the city where the company was headquartered. Designed by architects Leo de Bever and Louis Christiaan Kalff, the building’s futuristic appearance was no accident—its only design requirements were that it be "spectacular" and suitable for exhibitions. The result? A massive concrete dome, 77 meters (253 feet) in diameter, suspended by an intricate web of 169 kilometers (105 miles) of reinforcing steel bars, making it look like a flying saucer that landed in the Netherlands.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the museum housed cutting-edge interactive exhibitions that drew large crowds. However, as competing science museums emerged, visitor numbers declined, leading to its closure in 1989. Nearly a decade later, in 1998, the Evoluon found a second life as a conference center and exhibition space.

For many in the UK, the Evoluon is remembered through Bert Haanstra’s wordless short film, Evoluon, commissioned by Philips to showcase the museum. The film was broadcast as a trade test color film on BBC television from 1968 to 1972, cementing the building’s futuristic reputation beyond the Netherlands.

Its sci-fi aesthetic also caught the attention of the German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk, who chose the Evoluon as the venue for four exclusive 3D concerts in 2013. With an audience of 1,200 per show, the band enhanced their track Spacelab with bespoke 3D visuals of the Evoluon descending from space—turning the venue into both a stage and an integral part of the performance.

After years of limited public access, the Evoluon officially reopened to visitors on September 24, 2022, with the RetroFuture exhibition, marking its transformation into the Next Nature Museum. Today, it stands as a blend of history, architecture, and forward-thinking design—a true Eindhoven icon that continues to inspire.