Shanghai Natural History Museum
Designed by Perkins+Will, the new Shanghai Natural History Museum has opened its doors to the public.
Perkins+Will’s Global Design Director Ralph Johnson was behind the 44,517 square meter museum, a building which was inspired by one of nature’s purest geometric forms, the nautilus shell.
Natural elements feature across the museum’s façades including the central wall which resemble the cellular structure of plants and animals, the east living wall representing earth’s vegetation and the northern stone wall inspired by shifting tectonic plates. The design gives a feeling of open space while the use of ramps results in a harmonious connection with the surrounding Jing An Sculpture Park.
The building is bioclimatic as it processes sunlight with its intelligent building skin that maximises daylight and minimises solar gain. The 30-meter tall atrium invites to the building a wealth of natural light filtered through its remarkable cell inspired glass wall. Moreover, the oval courtyard pond allows for evaporative cooling. The building temperature is regulated through a geothermal system that makes use of energy from the earth to adjust heating and cooling. Rainwater is gathered from the vegetated roof and stored in the pond with recycled grey water.
Located in the Jing An District of downtown Shanghai in China, the new building replaces the original Natural History Museum after 9 years of design and construction. Featuring more than 10,000 artefacts from all seven continents, a 4D theatre, exhibit spaces, and an outdoor exhibit garden the new Shanghai Natural History Museum allows visitors to explore the natural world in extended in depth version.
—
