Frequently Asked Questions

Accessibility  •  On Site  •  Ticket Information  •  Group Information  •  Inclusion  
•  Safety and Supervision  •  Concept and Context  •  Enquiries and Feedback

• Where do we find BAUBAU?
  You will find the entrance to BAUBAU in our atrium on the ground floor. 
  Follow the signs: dinosaur footprints will guide you towards BAUBAU.
• How do we get into BAUBAU with a pram or pushchair?
  For prams or pushchairs, we recommend using our accessible entrance. It’s located to the left of the main entrance to Gropius Bau and marked with a sign. Simply ring the bell, and our staff will be happy to let you in. More information in our visualstory.
• Where can we park pushchairs and prams?
  Please take pushchairs and prams with you to BAUBAU on the ground floor. Next to BAUBAU is the cloakroom where you can park them. You can also store jackets, coats and larger bags there.
• What measures does BAUBAU have in place to ensure accessibility for all visitors?
  BAUBAU is accessible without physical barriers. The accessible entrance to Gropius Bau, located to the left of the main entrance, is suitable for people with limited mobility, wheelchairs and prams. Please note that you have to ring the bell for the door to open. For detailed information about accessibility at Gropius Bau, please view our Accessibility Information. Additionally, our playworkers are trained in accessibility and de-escalation. They are there to support you.

• Are there changing facilities?
  Changing facilities are located on the lower ground floor of Gropius Bau, where all-gender facilities and specific toilets for children are available.
• Is there space on site to eat something?
  You are welcome to eat snacks and drink in the area of the BAUBAU cloakroom and in the presentation room of Playing in the City, where you can also find tables and chairs. Please refrain from eating or drinking in the playrooms for hygiene reasons. Alternatively, our restaurant Beba offers a child friendly menu.
• What is the recommended age range for visiting this space?
  BAUBAU welcomes all children younger than 11 years old. Toddlers are welcome too.
• Is there anything we should bring to BAUBAU?
  Please ensure to bring anti-slip socks with you. If you forget them, you can ask the playworkers on site.
• Do we as accompanying adults also need to wear anti-slip socks?
  No. If you want, you can wear regular socks. We kindly ask you to take off your shoes in the entry area and store them in the shoe racks provided.
• Where can we park prams?
  Right next to BAUBAU on the ground floor is the BAUBAU cloakroom, where you can park pushchairs and buggies. There is also space for your jackets, coats and bags. Please leave larger bags there, at the main cloakroom or in the lockers on the lower ground floor of Gropius Bau to avoid tripping hazards.
• Can we visit other exhibitions while the children are at BAUBAU?
  No, please stay with the child you are visiting us with at all times. The accompanying adult is responsible for supervising the child during the entire visit. Feel free to explore our exhibitions with an exhibition ticket after your BAUBAU visit or during the break of your time slot.
• Can we join the children playing?
  BAUBAU is designed to foster a mode of free and uninstructed play for children. While you are welcome to join the children, we encourage you to take a more observational role. This approach allows children to explore and play on their own terms, following their own ideas. By stepping back, you can support a more independent and imaginative play experience for the children. If your child feels insecure or has any needs, you are, of course, welcome to assist.
• Where should we as accompanying adults wait?
  You are welcome to make yourself comfortable in BAUBAU and watch the children play. The room offers various seating options; you also have access to our free WLAN KBB.Public. If you need to wait before entering BAUBAU, you can stay in the presentation area of Playing in the City – a free-of-cost, child-friendly space.
• Can an adult without children visit BAUBAU?
  We created BAUBAU for kids. If too many adults visit while they are playing, it can change the feel of this space. We want to respect the privacy of children and their play so we prefer that no lone adults visit the space while play sessions are happening. However, between the hours of 18:00 to 19:00, you are welcome to visit BAUBAU without children.
• Can we bring our own toys?
  We kindly ask you not to bring personal toys or equipment to ensure a consistent and safe play environment for all children.
• Can we bring home some of the loose parts or objects from BAUBAU?
  Please note that items should not be removed from the play space. However, small self crafted elements may be taken home after checking with a play worker.
• What happens if an object breaks?
  Please inform our staff if any equipment breaks. We will handle repairs or replacements as needed.
• What types of equipment are available?
  BAUBAU includes a variety of equipment such as abstract structures, designed walls and loose parts: open-ended material which are elements and things from everyday life such as kitchenware and crafts material including cardboard, paper, fabric, rope, tape and many other items that encourage creativity and physical activity without creating noise. Other available equipment includes sensory balls, lava sticks, liquid tiles, Stapelsteine, sponges, wooden elements and carpets. To ensure that all materials and play elements meet appropriate safety standards, we collaborate with certified toy safety inspectors. A crafting table and reading corner, which usually provides a calmer atmosphere, are also waiting for you.
• Will BAUBAU host workshops?
  No, BAUBAU is primarily a space for free play.

• Is admission to BAUBAU free? 
  Yes, BAUBAU is free for children and one accompanying parent. 
• Do we need to book a time slot ticket in advance and pick up the ticket at the ticket desk?
  If you would like to visit BAUBAU, please book a free time slot ticket in advance. You can either show your digital time slot ticket or pick up a printed ticket at the ticket desk in our foyer. Tickets are released on Mondays at 12:00 noon for the coming week. We also keep a limited number of spots available for spontaneous visits; however, waiting times may occur and admission cannot be guaranteed. The validity of reserved tickets is limited to the first hour within the designated time slot.
• When can we visit BAUBAU?
  You can visit BAUBAU daily (except Tuesdays) during the following time slots: 
  Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri: 12:00–13:30 / 14:00–16:00 / 16:30–18:00 
  Sat and Sun: 10:00–12:00 / 12:30–15:00 / 15:30–18:00 
• Can we cancel or change our booking?
  Please cancel tickets that you no longer need so that other children can visit BAUBAU on that day. If you booked your ticket through your account, you can cancel it via “My Orders” before your scheduled time slot begins. Unfortunately, this option is not available for guest bookings made without prior registration. In this case, please reply to the order confirmation email in which you received your digital tickets and let us know. Changes to the booking are not possible, but you are welcome to book a new time slot ticket.
• Can we bring an extra child with a single reservation?
  We kindly ask you to reserve one ticket per child; you can book more than one free time slot ticket in advance if you are coming with more than one child.
• Can an extra adult person join with a single reservation? 
  No, one ticket grants entry for one child and one accompanying adult. If you would like a second adult to join, you can purchase an additional accompanying ticket for 4 euros at our ticket desk on site. Please note that the number of accompanying tickets is limited.

   

• When can daycare and school groups visit?
  On Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 to 12:00, BAUBAU is exclusively open for daycare and school groups with prior registration. Please sign up at least 10 days in advance through the Museumdienstwebsite. 
• Can we host birthday celebrations at BAUBAU?
  BAUBAU is designed as a public space where we aim to provide equal attention and play opportunities to all children. You are welcome to visit and celebrate a children’s birthday party, provided it doesn’t disrupt the experience we offer to all children at BAUBAU. Since BAUBAU declines the concept of “mine”, we kindly ask you to refrain from bringing presents or toys. Please reserve free tickets online. One ticket is valid for one child and their accompanying adult. 

• How does BAUBAU foster a diverse and inclusive environment for all?
  We are continuously improving the accessibility of BAUBAU. Our play spaceis accessible without physical barriers and free of charge. All play workers participate in ongoing training focused on de-escalation and accessibility. Visitors are welcome to share any specific needs, and the team will do everything possible to accommodate them. We also offer a variety of materials and elements that engage multisensory experiences, such as: 

  Sensory Balls: Designed to stimulate touch and coordination. 
  Natural Elements: Natural sponges and other non-toxic items that are safe for exploration, including taste. 
  Free-Form Plastic Materials: Non-toxic and safe for creative play. 
  Modular Spaces: We have the option to create small, enclosed areas where children can retreat for a quieter, more private experience.  
  If your child prefers a quieter environment, we recommend visiting BAUBAU on weekdays. 

• Is information or on-site material available in other languages? 
  On our Leichte Sprache page, you can find information about the concept of BAUBAU in German Easy Language. Our BAUBAU flyer with practical information for your visit is available in English, German, Arabic, Turkish, Ukrainian and Russian. You can download the digital version of the flyer. In the BAUBAU reading corner, you can find books in multiple languages. 

• Can we visit other exhibitions while the children are at BAUBAU?
  Children may only enter BAUBAU when accompanied by an adult. Accompanying adults are responsible for supervising children for the duration of their visit.
• How are playworkers trained?
  Playworkers come with an educational background in pedagogy and have experience with children. They undergo specialised training to ensure they provide safe and engaging play experiences. In addition to their professional training and pedagogical expertise, they complete in-house training, which includes first aid, fire and evacuation procedures, child protection with the training team of Wildwasser and a specialised workshop on free play led by Dr. Suzanna Law from Pop-UpAdventure Play, an expert in the field.
• Which measures is Gropius Bau taking to ensure that BAUBAU is safe?
  The Gropius Bau upholds rigorous safety standards, encompassing child protection and risk assesment protocols and regular equipment inspections. A team of skilled playworkers is dedicated to maintaining a secure environment. Additionally, a child protection concept will be implemented in collaboration with the training team of Wildwasser.
• Can we come to BAUBAU if a child is feeling ill on the same day?
  We kindly ask you to refrain from coming to the space if the child is ill.
• Can we take photos at BAUBAU?
  Taking photos inside BAUBAU during play hours is strictly forbidden. Wednesday to Monday between 18:00 and 19:00, BAUBAU can be visited by everyone. In this period, you are welcome to take pictures of the space.

• Is BAUBAU an artwork?
  BAUBAU is not an artwork; it is a dynamic play space designed by the artist Kerstin Brätsch specifically for children. This vibrant environment is intended to be an engaging area where children can explore and interact freely. Elements designed by the artist are available for this purpose. Together with loose materials, they can be used by the children according to their own ideas. These materials are meant to be reconfigured by the kids. The focus is on the process and not on the end result or the product. The space is designed to encourage spontaneity and creativity, embracing moments of chance. The play space should make it possible for the children to fully engage in their own imaginative processes. Kerstin Brätsch’s design for BAUBAU incorporates elements from her own work, including marblings, paintings and stucco pieces that reappear at the play space in various guises and new materials.
• What does free play mean?
  Free play refers to unstructured, child-led play where children explore and create without specific guidelines or directions.
• What is a playworker?
  A playworker is a trained individual who supports and facilitates play, ensuring a safe and engaging environment for children.

• I would like to work as a playworker. Where can I apply?
  Applications are only possible during certain periods. Please check our job portal. 
• How can we give feedback on BAUBAU?
  You are welcome to send any feedback via e-mail.