An undulating form topped with terraces will distinguish this technology museum, which the Shanghai office of architecture studio Stefano Boeri Architetti has designed for Xi'an, China.
Stefano Boeri Architetti's plans for Museum of Technology in Xi'an, also known as Culture CBD Modern Technology Experience Center, aims to become a hub for both the public and the scientific community in Shaanxi province.
The museum will have a winding, undulating form lined on one side with vertical metal slats and horizontal slats of glass fibre-reinforced concrete on the other.
According to the studio, this design draws on the landscape of rivers and mountains, as well as "the ancient origins of the city of Xi'an".
"The Xi'an museum will be an architecture open to everybody, designed to activate a process of urban regeneration in the area and involve a wide audience – from technology enthusiasts to children and students," said the studio's founder Stefano Boeri.
"A place of study, in-depth analysis, research and technological innovation, in the heart of one of the most important cities in Chinese history."
Museum of Technology in Xi'an has been developed as part of "a sequence of public spaces" that link to an urban park to the north and a city street to the south.
"The aim of the project is to create a permeable system open to the public, capable of activating new urban connections on different levels," said the studio.
One of the project's most notable features is the series of green rooftop terraces, which will be accessible to visitors to use as both a viewpoint and gathering space.
While hosting gardens, these terraces will also be used for various events including screenings, shows and performances. The planting design currently includes various tree species and shrubs typical of Chinese landscapes.
Inside, the museum will contain four main exhibition spaces, along with a temporary exhibition space and commercial areas.
They will be linked by a double-height central atrium and feature various digital artworks, experiences and exhibits, while virtual signage and apps will aid navigation.
"In addition to involvement and interaction with the public, the project paid particular attention to the use of multimedia and digital contents and their dissemination," said studio partner Yibo Xu.
"The museum will play an important role in shaping future exhibition scenarios and imagining new ways of producing and exhibiting art."
Boeri founded his eponymous studio Stefano Boeri Architetti in 2011. Today its main office is in Milan, but it also has offices in Shanghai and Tirana. Other recent projects by the studio include a proposal for a meditation centre at "one of the most sacred sites of Buddhism" and a masterplan for Smart Forest City in Mexico.
The visuals are courtesy of Stefano Boeri Architetti.
Project credits
Architect: Stefano Boeri Architetti
Founding partner: Stefano Boeri
Partner: Yibo Xu
Design team: Pietro Chiodi, Yifan Liu, Yinxin Bao, Xinyue Liu, Taimuzi Fu, Yifan Fei, Zhifei Yao, Changjiang Zhang, Qingxuan Yu, Yitao Huang, Mohamed Hassan Ali Elgendy