Exhibition and gallery designer NorthernLight has redesigned the kids’ gallery for Ciência Viva – an interactive science and technology centre in Lisbon – turning it into a circus-themed space.

With a focus on play and interaction, the new children's gallery at Ciência Viva has been opened up by the Dutch firm and is laden with bold graphics, bright hues, lights and kaleidoscopic mirrors.

The new gallery opened on 20 November and has a number of hands-on features for children to tackle, including swings, poles and rotary wheels.

"We came up with the metaphor of the circus for this discovery area, as it has such powerful connotations of magic, emotion and thrills," said Steven Schaeken, director of NorthernLight.

"We created a surreal space with things that seem impossible at first glance. Jump aboard a popcorn car with square wheels, step into a crazy ice-cream shootout or climb a clown puppet that mimics your voice.

"Catering to the age of selfies, we developed the perfect stage for capturing kids in their element: playing, discovering and having fun. The playscape is conceived with experiential learning in mind. Since we learn by doing, kids discover science by physically interacting with a diversity of installations."