Chinese architecture firm MAD has released a construction update for its new museum in Hainan Province, China. 

The project, called Hainan Science Museum, is progressing steadily through its various phases. As can be seen from the recent photographs, the cladding panels were started to be added to the structure. 

The building is situated on a 40,000 square meter site and covers a construction area of 46,000 square meters. The science museum has a unique "biomorphic" form with fluid, soft shapes, making it a distinctive landmark.

Aerial photography © China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp., Ltd.

The project, which began its design phase in 2020, broke ground in November 2021 and reached the completion of its main structure in June 2023.

Located on the west coast of Haikou City in Hainan Province, this coastal city is renowned for its warm climate, pristine white-sand beaches, and lush landscapes. Haikou is also the island’s central hub for economy, politics, technology, and culture.

Image courtesy of MAD

The Hainan Science Museum is being built in a new district of the Free-Trade Port, which is surrounded by existing wetlands and new constructions, including a school and a connecting highway. 

MAD's concept for the museum aims to integrate its natural tropical surroundings with the urban environment, where technology and science intersect with nature. 

The approach aims to establish an open and accessible garden that honors and enriches the natural wetlands. 

Image courtesy of MAD

Resembling an "updraft," the design mimics the upward movement of warm air from the Earth's surface. To achieve this fluid and rising form, the office designs the museum's curtain wall by using  843 pieces of Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP).

"Designed for Hainan's tropical climate, the panels include open seams and water-guiding grooves for effective drainage," said MAD in its project brief.

"The shapes and structure of the Hainan Science Museum have been carefully designed to avoid unnecessary space and materials." 

"The core, floor plates and main structure are directly connected with the curved façade, ensuring efficient use of resources," the firm added. 

Image courtesy of MAD

The design maximizes efficiency by integrating circulation and functional layout with the building structure, effectively reducing waste. 

The museum is six stories tall and consists of five above-ground floors, totaling 28,000 square meters, as well as one underground level. 

The ramp spirals upward like a twisting DNA strand, extending from the ground floor to the sixth floor through the indoor exhibition space. Natural light filters down through a glass dome, illuminating the entire atrium and casting light on the ramp.

According to MAD, the thoughtful, and reflective design approach includes dedicated areas for younger children, older kids, and adults. 

Image courtesy of MAD

"Our research found that younger children can quickly tire in large museums, so they provided spaces for them on the second and third floors above the canopy and garden," the firm explained.

"Here parents can take their young children to enjoy indoor learning activities and then spend time in the garden to enjoy the rest of their day."

"A science museum is about education and imagining the future; we want nature to be part of that vision as well," said Ma Yansong, founder and principal of MAD.

The visit to the science museum for older kids and adults starts on the sixth floor. Visitors can access an elevator from the entrance and then make their way down through an immersive journey. 

Image courtesy of MAD

A winding ramp around the building provides curated views of the garden on the right and gallery spaces on the left, creating an efficient and engaging circulation route that connects multiple levels.

Surrounding the museum are sunken plazas and wetlands featuring a diverse array of tropical plants native to Hainan. These natural spaces are designed as interactive public areas for people to relax, learn, and engage in natural social interaction.

Image courtesy of MAD

Masterplan

Facade Detail

Section

Function diagram

Circulation Diagram

MAD Architects plans to complete the museum's curtain wall and landscaping by June of this year. The museum is expected to open to the public in 2025.

MAD unveiled design for a new sports center that features an undulating and reflective skin in Shijiazhuang, China. The firm also designs  a new airport with bird-like volume in Lishui, China.

Project facts

Project name: Hainan Science Museum

Architects: MAD Architects 

Location: Haikou, China

Date: 2020-2025 

Building Area: 46,528 square meters 

Above Ground: 27,782 square meters 

Underground: 18,746 square meters

Principal Partners: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano

Associate Partners: Fu Changrui, Kin Li, Tiffany Dahlen

Design Team: Wang Yiding, Dayie Wu, Yin Jianfeng, Sun Feifei, Reem Mosleh, Pan Siyi, Alan Rodríguez Carrillo, Anri Gyuloyan, Chen Yi Wen, Rozita Kashirtseva, Wu Qiaoling, Zheng Chengwen, Feng Yingying, Zhu Yuhao, Edgar Navarrete, Yang Xuebing.

Client: Haikou Association for Science and Technology
Project Management: Haikou Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd.
Architectural Design: MAD Architects
Executive Architect: CCDI
Facade Consultant: RFR Shanghai
Landscape Consultant: EADG
Interior Design: MAD Architects, CCDI
Lighting Consultant: Ning Field Lighting Design Corp., Ltd.
Signage Consultant: CCDI
Exhibition Consultant: Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd.
Construction: China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp., Ltd

Top image in the article courtesy of MAD. 

Aerial Photography © China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp., Ltd.

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