Museum of Technology Xi’an
Architect: Stefano Boeri Architetti
Location: Xi’an, China
Type: Museum
Year: 2024
Images: courtesy of Stefano Boeri Architetti
The new Museum of Technology in Xi’an, the capital of the Chinese province of Shaanxi, was designed to become a place of social gathering and a scientific and cultural hub
The following description is courtesy of the architects. The satellite practice of Stefano Boeri Architetti in China won the competition for the Culture CBD Modern Technology Experience Center, a technology museum designed to become a large scientific and cultural hub for the city and its visitors.
The winning project by Stefano Boeri Architetti was inspired both by the ancient origins of the city of Xi’an capital of the Chinese province of Shaanxi and by the local natural landscape, characterized by a tortuous system of rivers and mountains.
The aim of the project is to create a permeable system open to the public, capable of activating new urban connections on different levels.
“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. A place of study, in-depth analysis, research and technological innovation, in the heart of one of the most important cities in Chinese history” comments architect Stefano Boeri.
The project site overlooks an urban park to the north, while to the south it borders a city street.
The museum project is part of a sequence of public spaces and addresses the park and the city with distinct strategies. The north facade, facing the park, recalls the natural element through its curves and is covered with vertical metal slats; while the southern façade, facing the city, is clad with horizontal slats of very high-performance concrete (GRC) reinforced with glass fibres to ensure high durability and better mechanical properties.
On the roof, the project includes a hanging garden in continuity with the park and a system of terraces that allows visitors to climb up to the building and gain a new look at the surrounding urban panorama. The green terraces accessible to citizens will be an integral part of the museum’s cultural program of events (the different areas will host screenings, activities, shows and performances) – as well as offering citizens a new public outdoor space, with unprecedented views of the park and the city. The greenery project for the roof garden includes six plant essences chosen as the main varieties for the tree species – including Ginko Biloba, Acer Pictum and Pinus Bungeana – twelve types of shrubs and twelve perennial herbaceous species, selected from the typical local essences of the Chinese natural landscape.
As regards the internal distribution, the project includes four main exhibition spaces, a temporary exhibition space and commercial areas. A double-height central atrium connects the different areas and guarantees complete accessibility and usability, according to the principles of “Design for All”.
The specific shade of blue, highly saturated and bright, already widespread in the fields of digital art and design, was chosen as the representative chromatic element of the project and characterizes the public areas and exhibition spaces, as well as the signage elements and the works of land art in the park.
“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. The museum will play an important role in shaping future exhibition scenarios and imagining new ways of producing and exhibiting art” adds Yibo Xu, Partner of Stefano Boeri Architetti China.
Navigation inside the museum can be an immersive experience thanks to virtual signage and apps that will guide the user through AI platforms, augmented reality experiences and experiential exhibitions, which will guarantee a highly personalized use of the space.
Project Credits
- Stefano Boeri Architetti China
- Founding Partner: Stefano Boeri
- Partner: Yibo Xu
- Design Team: Pietro Chiodi (Director), Yifan Liu, Yinxin Bao, Xinyue Liu, Taimuzi Fu, Yifan Fei, Zhifei Yao, Changjiang Zhang, Qingxuan Yu, Yitao Huang, Mohamed Hassan Ali Elgendy
