The Shanghai Planetarium to be designed by Ennead Architects

The Shanghai Planetarium to be designed by Ennead Architects

Ennead Architects have won the competition to design the Shanghai Planetarium. The design celebrates the continuity of time and space. The planetarium mirrors the Chinese astronomy’s history and China’s space exploration programs.

The Shanghai Planetarium – Courtesy of Ennead Architects

“In linking the new Museum to both scientific purpose and to the celestial references of buildings throughout history, the exhibits and architecture will communicate more than scientific content: they will illuminate what it means to be human in a vast and largely unknown universe.” Thomas Wong, Design Partner.

The Shanghai Planetarium – Courtesy of Ennead Architects

The design was inspired by astronomical principles and has three principal forms which are; the Oculus, the Inverted Dome and the Sphere which tracks the sun, moon, and stars. However, the building’s form and structure eases the visitors’ exploration of the three main structures.

The Shanghai Planetarium – Courtesy of Ennead Architects

The exhibits include some exterior exhibits in a green zone, including a seventy-eight-foot-high solar telescope. Moreover, it accommodates some outdoor youth activities.
The project is expected to be open to its visitors in 2020.