Museums

Architecture based on astronomy principles for new planetarium in Shanghai

Consisting of three “celestial bodies,” the entire building is made out of the oculus, the inverted dome, and the sphere.

By BD+C Staff | March 9, 2015

Architecture based on “astronomical principles” for new planetarium in Shanghai — Reflecting pools will be strewn throughout the building. Renderings courtesy Ennead Architects

The ancient Chinese civilization left some of the earliest records of humans studying the stars and skies. To exhibit this long history, a new planetarium and astronomy museum is planned for construction in Shanghai, one of China’s most bustling cultural hubs.

According to Architizer, Thomas Wong, partner and design principal at Ennead Architects, took inspiration from astronomy principles in designing the 38,000-sm planetarium.

Consisting of three “celestial bodies,” the entire building is made out of the oculus, the inverted dome, and the sphere. According to the firm, “Each major element acts as an astronomical instrument, tracking the sun, moon and stars—reminding visitors that our conception of time originates in distant astronomical objects and enriching the museum exhibit experience with actual encounters of celestial movement.”

Reflecting pools will be strewn throughout the building, which Architizer says will create an external environment that “brings to mind the serene settings created by Japanese modernists such as Yoshio Taniguchi and Tadao Ando.”

Catch the full report at Architizer.

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Architecture based on astronomy principles for new planetarium in Shanghai

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