Zaha Hadid Architects’ New Sci-Fi Museum Looks Like An Efflorescent ‘Star Cloud’

Chengdu, China will soon host the 81st annual World Science Fiction Convention, or Worldcon, the world’s largest sci-fi event. And where better to invite futuristic enthusiasts than to the forthcoming Chengdu Science Fiction Museum?

The forthcoming building, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, will be the centerpiece of the city of over 20 million residents, which has steadily risen to become a global hub for scientific innovation and research over the years. 

Situated on Jingrong Lake, the structure takes on the shape of an expanding nebula cloud with a star at its center, which to the eye, appears like a “star cloud” that’s dispersing its energy fields into many different directions. 

“The fluid forms of its roofs radiate from a central point within … guiding visitors through a portal that connects our lived experience with our imagination,” the company explains. 

These zones and the natural landscapes along the lakeshore will help create an interweaving of indoor and outdoor spaces that bring guests from the museum’s exhibition galleries to educational facilities, cafés, and other amenities. 

The museum’s spacious 59,000 square m (635,000 sq ft) confines will house galleries, a theatre, and conference halls. To top things off, visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of Xiling Mountain from the central atrium’s window. 

Predictably, to be futuristic, the building meets the highest sustainability standards in the country. It will collect and store rainwater to be reused and allow the lake to become a part of the city’s drainage system to mitigate flooding. 

Natural hybrid ventilation will provide a comfortable temperature for visitors all year round, with photovoltaics embedded into the museum’s roof canopy to help offset its energy needs. 

The Chengdu Science Fiction Museum remains under construction for the time being and will be open to the public later this year. 

[via ArchDaily and Zaha Hadid Architects, images via Zaha Hadid Architects / Render by Atchain]