A star cloud like science fiction museum by Zaha Hadid Architects

All visuals by ATCHAIN

With the aim to host the Worldcon + 2023 Hugo Awards in Chine, Zaha Hadid Architects’ Chengdu Science Fiction Museum is gradually developing in China as another exclusive mind-blowing cultural destination in the country. The museum which is currently under construction, will be completed towards the end of the for the purpose of hosting the 81st annual World Science Fiction Convention (WORLDCON), the 2023 Hugo Awards and other future activities.

The great city of Chengdu is a leading incubator of science fiction writing in China. Launching the careers of many of the country’s most renowned authors, ‘Science Fiction World’ magazine has been published in the city since 1979 and is the genre’s most popular periodical worldwide according to Designboom website. Situated in the middle of mountains like valley settlement with ranges and forests, Chengdu has a different local culture following its rich history that includes the mystical visions and extraterrestrial forms within the carvings and masks of the Bronze Age Sanxingdui civilization. The capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China, as an important global center of scientific innovation and research, Chengdu has grown to a city of over 20 million residents and this new exclusive museum upon completion, will unfold a new chapter for the city.

By creating a journey of discovery through Star Cloud, it looks like the exclusive complex is floating above the lake’s surface, introducing a connection of programmatic and functional clarity together as it responds to its unique environment and site conditions. Moreover, the fluid forms of its roof radiate from a central point within, in form of an expanding nebula cloud and making the museum looks like a ‘star cloud’ that disperses energy fields into its many different zones. Zaha Hadid Architects noted a notion of: ‘guiding visitors through a portal that connects our lived experience with our imagination.’

The Chengdu Science Fiction Museum in its capacity of 59,000 sqm has maximum flexibility to host the widest range of exhibitions, conferences, events, galleries, a theater, a conference hall and supporting ancillary spaces. Above its generous accommodation, the interior features a sky-lit central atrium with a large window directly facing the spectacular Xiling Mountain, further connecting the museum with its surrounding nature of environment.

Zaha Hadid Architects designed the museum to meet the highest 3 Star standards of China’s Green Building Program through detailed digital modeling analysis to maximize efficiencies in composition, site conditions, solar irradiation, and structure. Fluidity meets eco-conscious design as natural hybrid ventilation optimizes Chengdu’s mild subtropical climate to provide comfort for visitors and staff throughout the year, while photovoltaic embedded within the museum’s large roof canopy contribute to meeting the building’s energy demands. The architects stated that ‘The dimensions of this roof have been calculated to shade the glazed facades in summer.’

Native to the region is the landscaped with plants, as the museum also recycle the rainwater that it collects and stores for natural filtration and reuse, this enable Jingrong Lake to become a significant part of Chengdu’s sustainable drainage system that will mitigate flooding and increase biodiversity all over the city. 

Project Info:

Name: Chengdu Science Fiction Museum 

Location: Chengu, China 

Architecture: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) 

Design: Patrik Schumacher

Visuals: ATCHAIN

Total Area: 59,000 sqm 

Zaha Hadid Architects Members 

Project Directors: Satoshi Ohashi, Paulo Flores 

Project Associate: Yang Jingwen 

Project Architects: Juan Liu, Magda Smolinska 

Project Lead: Sven Torres 

Site Architect: Meng Zhao 

Project Team: Andrei Cojocaru, Berkin Islam, Chu Zhou, Hao Wen, Jillian Nishi, Lianyuan Ye, Meng Zhao, Shang Li, Stefan Manousof, Sven Torres, Yang Liu, Yuling Ma, Xiaoying Li 

Competition Project Directors: Satoshi Ohashi, Paulo Flores 

Competition Associate: Yang Jingwen 

Competition Project Architects: Juan Liu, Magda Smolinska 

Competition Team: Andrei Cojocaru, Enoch Kolo, Jillian Nishi, Juan Montiel, Lianyuan Ye, Meng Zhao, Nan Jiang, Nastasja Mitrovic, Stefan Manousof, Yanran Lu, Yimeng Zhao, Yuling Ma 

Competition Sustainability Team: Aleksander Mastalski, Carlos Bausa Martinez 

Consultants

Local Architect: China South West Architecture Design Institute

Façade, M&E, MAP, and Fire Engineering: China South West Architecture Design Institute 

Site Supervision: Sichuan Feihong Engineering Management Consulting Co., Ltd. 

General Contractor: China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group 

Landscape Consultant: Hangzhou Landscape Design Institute 

Exhibition Design Consultant: Chengdu Science Fiction Society

Acoustic Consultant and Interior Local Design Institute: SIADR

Project Management: CR LAND

Lighting Design LIGHTDESIGN, BPI 

Source: Designboom website

Edited by MJ Buildace Magazine