BINHAI MUSEUM, CHINA

AREA – 3,55,200 ft2

YEAR - 2019
 INTRODUCTION
• Designed in 2013-2014, the Exploratorium opened
in Fall 2019.
• The Exploratorium showcases artifacts from
Tianjin’s industrial past through large-scale
contemporary technology, including spectacular
rockets for space research.
• The project is part of the city’s Binhai Cultural
Center and contains facilities for cultural events
and exhibitions as well as galleries, offices, and
restaurant and retail spaces.
CONCEPTUALIZING
CONTEXT
The old site of the museum,from
which tschumi draws inspiration.
 PHILOSOPHY
• Bernard Tschumi Architects designed the
Exploratorium to relate to the rich industrial
history of the area, the site of high-volume
manufacturing and research. A series of large-scale
cones creates major rooms throughout the museum
• The building is designed for the past, present and
the future.
 PHILOSOPHY
• The central cone, lit from above, connects all three
levels of the Exploratorium.
• A spiraling ramp ascends to the top level, offering
an unusual spatial experience of the modern
vertical city by reinterpreting an ancient industrial
typology.
• The roof is accessible to visitors and acts as a
promenade with striking views over the
surrounding city.
THE FOCAL POINT OF THE
EXHIBITION COMPLEX IS THE
G R A N D L O B B Y O R C O N E T H AT
PROVIDES ACCESS TO ALL PUBLIC
PA R T S O F T H E P R O G R A M . T H E
P E R F O R AT E D A L U M I N U M FA C A D E
GIVES A UNIFIED PRESENCE TO THE
BUILDING, DESPITE ITS LARGE SIZE
A N D T H E D I S PA R AT E E L E M E N T S O F
THE PROGRAM.
  G R A N D , T R I P L E - H E I G H T S PA C E S
D E F I N E T H E M A I N C I R C U L AT I O N ,
W H I L E A C O N S T E L L AT I O N O F
LIGHTS AND CIRCULAR
L I G H T W E L L S G I V E T H E S PA C E A N
O T H E R - W O R L D LY F E E L .
T H E FA Ç A D E I S M A D E U P T H E E X T E R N A L C O N V E X C Y L I N D E R S H AV E
O F   P E R F O R AT E D , C O P P E R - C O L O R E D REGULAR OPERABLE CIRCULAR WINDOWS,
R A I N S C R E E N PA N E L S C O V E R I N G T H E WHICH MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE VISITORS
B U I L D I N G W I T H P V D F C O AT I N G T O WA N D E R I N G T H E I N T E R N A L S P I R A L S TA I R C A S E
I M I TAT E R U S T. O N T H E F L AT T O E N J O Y T H E L A N D S C A P E O F T H E PA R K . ”
P O RT I O N S O F T H E B U I L D I N G
A P P R O X I M AT E LY 3 , 6 0 0 A L U M I N U M
PA N E L S , 3 M M T H I C K , H AV E B E E N
USED WHILE THE TOWERS ARE
D E C O R AT E D W I T H C U RV E D
A L U M I N U M P L AT E S .  
T H E C O N E S P R O V I D E E V E N , N AT U R A L L I G H T T O G A L L E R Y S PA C E S A N D R E D U C E T H E E N E R G Y L O A D S R E Q U I R E D F O R
A R T I F I C I A L L I G H T I N G . T H E I R TA P E R E D F O R M S A L S O C O N C E N T R AT E WA R M A I R , W H I C H C A N T H E N B E C H A N N E L E D O U T
OF THE BUILDING IN SUMMER OR BACK INTO THE GALLERIES IN WINTER.  
THANK YOU