In true parametric fashion, the design team at Zaha Hadid Architects reveals their plans for a new museum located in Shenzhen, China. The new Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum will be the "pearl" of the city's technology and innovation corridor in the Guangming Science City. The latest visuals showcase voluminous forms and eye-catching undulating terraces, and U-shaped volume.

According to the team at Zaha, "The design is a volumetric response to the distinct conditions of the site. Responding to the city to the east, the design is defined by its solidity and dynamic curvilinear geometries that express the many urban circulation routes."

The museum is approximately 1,345,483 sq. f (125,000 sq.m) in size and is set to be a focal point for the area as a physical hub for Shenzhen as a leader in innovation and technology. According to the museum's design team, the new design exudes an "intuitive orientation and navigation" that focuses on the visitors' experience as they explore the site's interior and exterior. 

The atrium courtyard opens out to the site's natural landscapes of Guangming Park. The building's layered terraces and curved facade are familiar staples to many of Zaha's designs. Its sleek and shiny exterior is complemented by its interior details, sustainability efforts, and building performance. 

"Detailed computer modeling and wind tunnel testing have provided extensive analysis of thermal performance, natural lighting, wind levels and air quality to maximise the effectiveness of the building’s envelope in reducing energy consumption while ensuring visitor comfort and the preservation of its collection."

The museum has already generated responses from the public as on-site construction is now underway. Many celebrate the new museum design, while others express concerns about its carbon footprint and how it will respond to the area's climate. However, according to the project's official release, the museum's "full life-cycle performance and adaptability for future configuration are also evaluated and assessed to reduce embodied carbon and achieve the highest Three-Star rating of China's Green Building Evaluation Standard."

This year, the firm announced another Shenzhen project that aims to add to the city's expanding urban landscape, the OPPO Shenzhen headquarters. The museum is planned to be completed in late 2023.