The world’s largest science fiction event Worldcon will take place in the Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. Under construction, the 59,000 sq. m venue that will host the 81st annual World Science Fiction Convention and the Hugo Awards, is set to become a vibrant center of innovation and gathering place for the “leading incubator of science fiction writing in China”. In fact, the city of Chengdu, home to over 20 million residents, is transforming into an important global center of scientific innovation and research.
Located on Jingrong Lake within the Science & Innovation New City of Chengdu’s Pidu District, the Chengdu Science Fiction Museum incorporates maximum flexibility to host a variety of exhibitions, conferences, and events. Integrated within its natural and unique context, the museum “appears to float above the surface of the lake”. Actually, its fluid design, developed through digital modeling analysis, ensures efficiencies in composition, site conditions, solar irradiation, and structure, meeting the 3 Star standards of China’s Green Building Program. Moreover, natural hybrid ventilation, photovoltaics embedded within its canopy, and the design and dimensions of its roof contribute to the museum’s sustainable and efficient nature.
Including exhibition galleries, theatres, conference halls, and supporting ancillary spaces, the museum generates nodes of activity. Connected to the infrastructure of the city, the project creates a path that alternates between indoor and outdoor spaces at multiple levels, linked to the museum’s exhibition galleries, educational facilities, cafes, and other amenities. The surrounding terrain is planted with native shrubberies, and the landscape design allows the collection and storage of rainwater for natural filtration and reuse.
The fluid forms of its roof radiate from a central point within, emulating an expanding nebula cloud with a star at its center – transforming the museum into a ‘star cloud’ that disperses energy fields into its many different zones; guiding visitors through a portal that connects our lived experience with our imagination. -- Zaha Hadid Architects.
Project Team
- Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)
- Design: Patrik Schumacher
- ZHA Project Directors: Satoshi Ohashi, Paulo Flores
- ZHA Project Associate: Yang Jingwen
- ZHA Project Architects: Juan Liu, Magda Smolinska
- ZHA Project Lead: Sven Torres
- ZHA Site Team: Meng Zhao
- ZHA Project Team: Andrei-Ciprian 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
- ZHA Competition Project Directors: Satoshi Ohashi, Paulo Flores
- ZHA Competition Associate: Yang Jingwen
- ZHA Competition Project Architects: Juan Liu, Magda Smolinska
- ZHA Competition Team: Andrei-Ciprian Cojocaru, Enoch Kolo, Jillian Nishi, Juan Montiel, Lianyuan Ye, Meng Zhao, Nan Jiang, Nastasja Mitrovic, Stefan Manousof, Yanran Lu, Yimeng Zhao, Yuling Ma
- ZHA Competition Sustainability Team: Aleksander Mastalski, Carlos Bausa Martinez
- Competition Visuals: ATCHAIN
- Exhibition Design Consultant: 成都市科幻协会 Chengdu Science Fiction Society
