The Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, a futuristic architectural marvel, has recently opened its doors in the capital of the Sichuan province, in Southwest China. Commissioned to host the 81st annual World Science Fiction Convention, also known as Worldcon, happening later this year, the 59,000 square-meter building took only 12 months to come to life, a project which would typically take four to five years for construction due to its size and complexity.
Built for the event, which will take place in China for the first time and only second time in Asia, the construction is set to be “the best facility by far that the Worldcon has ever been hosted in”, said Dave McCarty, vice-chair of Chengdu Worldcon. “Having that dedicated space makes a wonderful home for science fiction”, McCarty added.
Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the museum features an otherworldly aesthetic that seems straight out of a science fiction universe. Shaped as a seven-point metallic star, it changes appearance depending on the angle of view. From one side, its fluid-form roof mimics the mountains that surround Chengdu, integrating with the natural landscapes along the lakeshore. From another side, it resembles a cloud floating above the lake sits on.
From every angle, it will always look different; it will always look unusual or unexpected.
Paulo Flores, Project Directors at Zaha Hadid Architects
For the London-based architecture firm, the project was a dream opportunity “to be part of that movement of creating what the future looks like — not only visually, but also technologically”, said Paulo Flores, one of the project directors at Zaha Hadid Architects. “Science fiction has always been a very important source of inspiration for our designs. Science Fiction has always taken that leap forward, looking at what technology is currently and what technology could evolve into.”
The technology employed in the construction and design of the building was as futuristic as the aesthetic results and Zaha Hadid Architects’ proficiency in digital design was key to the expedited construction. The late Zaha Hadid, nicknamed the “Queen of Curve“, was a pioneer in this field, and the firm leveraged polygonal modeling software to create a three-dimensional simulation of the building.
Satoshi Ohashi, Flores’ colleague as project director, emphasized that the use of digital tools in design software, such as digital modeling analysis, allowed construction and design to progress simultaneously, a feat that would have been impossible without the new technologies. In fact, analyzing weather and environmental parameters through digital modeling analysis played a crucial role in optimizing the museum’s structure for Chengdu’s climate and the building’s site conditions. Thus, informed decisions were taken on the size and angle of the roof overhang, providing optimal protection from direct sunlight, while natural hybrid ventilation was adopted to maximize the weather conditions and provide comfort to the museum’s visitors, considering the city’s mild subtropical climate. Featuring solar panels to power the building, along with skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows to minimize the need for artificial lighting during the day, the museum also integrates green technology.
Home to over 20 million residents, Chengdu is a hub for China’s multi-billion “science fiction industry,” including publishing and film releases. One of the world’s most-read sci-fi magazines, Science Fiction World, was founded in the city in 1979. The city has launched the careers of many renowned Chinese authors and has contributed significantly to the genre’s evolution and popularity worldwide.
The museum is part of the larger “Future City” development in the Pidu district, referred to as Chengdu Future Science and Technology City. The 4.6 square-kilometer site is set to accommodate several new universities, laboratories and offices.
