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Ennead Architects has won an international competition to design the Shanghai Planetarium. The “celestial” design hopes to elevate the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum’s (SSTM) “scientific and technological capacity” while redefine the district Lingang upon its completion in 2018. 

“Drawing inspiration form astronomical principles, our design strategy provides a platform for the experience of orbital motion, and utilizes that as a metaphorical reference and generator of form,” says Ennead Architects.

Instruments Diagram . Image © Thomas Wong / Ennead Architects

“Three ‘celestial bodies’ comprise the architecture: the Oculus, the Inverted Dome, and the Sphere. Suspended above the main entry to the Museum, the Oculus demonstrates the passage of time by tracking a circle of sunlight on the ground across the entry plaza and reflecting pool. The Inverted Dome, which facilitates an authentic experience of both day and night sky, sits atop the central atrium around which all galleries are organized and through which all visitors pass.

© Thomas Wong / Ennead Architects

© Thomas Wong / Ennead Architects

“Finally the Sphere contains the domed screen of the Planetarium; a continuous skylight around the Sphere allows direct sunlight to enter and marks the passage of time in the Museum below, with a full circular ring of light realized at the non hour of the summer solstice.”

Floor Plan - Level 1. Image © Thomas Wong / Ennead Architects

• Competition: Shanghai Planetarium
• Award: First Prize
• Architects: Ennead Architects
• Location: Lin Gang Da Dao, Pudong Xinqu, Shanghai Shi, China
• Area: 409028.0 ft2
• Project Year: 2018
• Photographs: Thomas Wong / Ennead Architects

Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.