Stefano Boeri Architetti ‘s satellite office in China has won the competition for the Culture CBD Modern Technology Experience Center, a Museum of Technology designed to become a major scientific and cultural hub for the city and its visitors, a permeable system capable of activating new urban connections on different levels.
The project is inspired on the one hand by the ancient origin of the city of Xi’an and on the other by the local natural landscape, characterised by a winding system of rivers and mountains.
“The Xi’an Museum will be an architecture open to all, 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 for study, in-depth research and technological innovation, in the heart of one of the most important cities in Chinese history,” comments architect Stefano Boeri.
The museum project fits into a sequence of public spaces and addresses the park and the city with distinct strategies. The north façade, facing the park, recalls the natural element through its curves and is clad with vertical metal slats. While the south façade, facing the city, is clad with horizontal staves of ultra-high performance concrete (GRC) reinforced with glass fibres to ensure high durability and better mechanical properties.
On the roof, the project envisages a roof garden in continuity with the park and a system of steps and green terraces usable by citizens, which will be an integral part of the museum’s cultural programme of events and will host projections, activities, shows and performances, as well as offering citizens a new open-air public space with unprecedented views of the park and the city.
In terms of internal distribution, the project envisages four main exhibition spaces, a temporary exhibition space and commercial areas. A central double-height atrium connects the different areas and ensures complete accessibility and usability, according to the principles of ‘Design for All’.
“Inaddition to engaging and interacting with the public, the project paid special attention to the use of multimedia and digital content and its 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 will be an immersive experience thanks to virtual signage and Apps that will guide the user through AI platforms, augmented reality experiences and experiential exhibitions, ensuring a highly personalised use of the space.
For further information visit the Stefano Boeri Architetti website.
