New Science and Technology Museum of Henan Province by TJAD Atelier L+

The New Science and Technology Museum of Henan Province stands as a monumental landmark in the Baisha Xianghu Planning Area of Zhengzhou, combining cutting-edge design with cultural resonance. Drawing inspiration from the region’s Heluo Culture, the museum’s architecture evokes the natural confluence of the Yellow River and Luo River, producing a form that feels both organically grounded and dynamically expansive. Its sweeping profile, reminiscent of a bird flapping its wings, extends across the Central Plains, symbolizing Henan’s ongoing cultural and technological advancement. The museum is conceived not merely as a building but as a cultural beacon, bridging the historical significance of the region with the ambitions of modern science.

Scale, Integration, and Program

As the largest and most heavily invested public project in Henan Province, the museum integrates three major institutions: the Science Museum, the Nature Museum, and the Astronomy Museum. This multi-functional complex encompasses nearly 20 large exhibition halls, all radiating from a central atrium that serves as the museum’s dynamic core. The atrium, spanning 3,000 square meters, features a triple-floor steel truss skybridge and interconnected public platforms, creating a continuous, orbital-like spatial experience. The centerpiece is a full-dome spherical cinema, the largest indoor theater of its kind in China, which anchors the space both visually and experientially.

The design accommodates the dense and irregular urban context of Zhengzhou through a trident fractal layout. Each wing aligns with prevailing wind directions to maximize natural ventilation, while a 3-meter elevated plinth enhances flood resilience, integrating seamlessly into the surrounding urban fabric. The museum is also conceived as a museum-park hybrid, linking to the Guibiao Tower through plazas, exhibition grounds, and waterfront areas that blend indoor and outdoor experiences, creating layered spatial richness and public accessibility.

Environmental Design and Sustainability

Sustainability is central to the project, with the museum conceived as a prototype of “environmental intelligent construction.” Large-scale parametric simulations and wind tunnel testing informed the building’s organic form and double-layer aluminum façade, which resembles fish scales. This freeform façade, combined with a steel frame incorporating 80-meter truss bridges, resolves complex torsional challenges while enhancing natural ventilation. Adjustable aluminum panels on the façade, together with a thermal chimney in the atrium, enable rhythmic airflow and natural temperature control, reducing reliance on mechanical systems and energy consumption. These strategies align with the three-star standard of The Green Building Evaluation Label, demonstrating that ambitious architecture can coexist with environmental responsibility.

Advanced technologies were leveraged throughout the design and construction process. BIM (Building Information Modeling) and 3D scanning ensured precision across vast and intricate spaces, from complex curtain walls to expansive exhibition halls. Every element of the structure — from steel trusses to parametric façade components — was coordinated digitally, enhancing construction efficiency and minimizing errors. The result is a building that seamlessly combines structural audacity, spatial complexity, and environmental intelligence.

Spatial Experience and Visitor Engagement

The museum’s interior is designed to foster both education and exploration. The atrium functions as a central circulation and social hub, connecting the three wings while providing clear visual connections across multiple levels. Visitors move fluidly through thematic zones, engaging with exhibits on nature, science, and astronomy in spaces designed for adaptability and interactivity. Public platforms, skybridges, and orbital walkways create dynamic sightlines, encouraging curiosity and discovery at every turn.

By integrating the museum with surrounding landscapes and parklands, the architects have created a holistic visitor experience that combines learning with leisure. The museum’s plazas and waterfront spaces act as public gathering areas, hosting educational events, performances, and outdoor exhibitions, ensuring that the museum is both a cultural landmark and a vibrant community asset.

Recognition and Impact

Since its completion, the New Science and Technology Museum of Henan Province has become a technology and cultural landmark. The museum has been recognized with multiple prestigious awards, including:

• First Prize of the Shanghai Survey and Design Public Building Award

• Second Prize of the Huaxia Architecture Science and Technology Award

• First Prize of the Henan Provincial Award for Civil and Architectural Science & Technology (Architectural Design)

• China Construction Engineering Luban Prize (National Quality Project)

In its first year of operation, the museum welcomed nearly 6.5 million visitors, with peak daily attendance reaching 27,000, demonstrating its capacity as a major educational and cultural destination. The museum has not only elevated the public profile of Henan Province but also embodies the province’s vision of becoming a national highland of innovation, linking science, culture, and education through world-class architecture.

Conclusion

The New Science and Technology Museum of Henan Province exemplifies a design philosophy that integrates cultural symbolism, environmental intelligence, technological sophistication, and public engagement. From its Heluo-inspired form to its parametric façade, expansive atrium, and fully integrated museum-park concept, the building celebrates Henan’s history while advancing its future as a hub of science and innovation. By combining architectural excellence with educational and cultural purpose, the museum sets a benchmark for contemporary public architecture in China and globally.

Photography: Schran Image & ZY Architectural Photography