Hami Pterosaur Museum in Gobi Desert by Turenscape Redefines Sustainable Architecture
The Hami Pterosaur Museum, created by Turenscape, has officially opened its doors in the Gobi desert of north-west China. This underground facility, which spans 8,000 square metres and reaches a depth of 8 metres, displays hundreds of pterosaur fossils while minimizing heating and cooling requirements. Translucent funnels reduce lighting needs by nearly 50%, resulting in an annual energy savings of 84,672 kWh. Additionally, natural ventilation combined with a nearby solar farm produces over 22.4 GWh of electricity each year, fulfilling the museum's energy demands. The museum can cut air-conditioning usage by 94%, saving 223,421 kWh annually, and includes a water recycling system. Located in Hami, where temperatures can soar above 55C, it safeguards fossils and offers geological insights. Wang Xiaolin oversees the museum, with support from Huai Kaifeng and Jiinyi Hwang.
Key facts
- The Hami Pterosaur Museum is located in the Gobi desert in north-west China.
- It was designed by Beijing-based architecture firm Turenscape.
- Most of the 8,000-square-metre museum is built 8 metres underground to maintain stable temperatures.
- The museum can reduce air-conditioning electricity usage by 94% compared to an above-ground building, saving 223,421kWh annually.
- Giant translucent funnels cut artificial lighting needs by nearly 50%, saving 84,672kWh per year.
- A solar farm about 1km away, shaped like a pterosaur, is expected to generate over 22.4GWh annually.
- The museum showcases fossils of pterosaurs that lived about 130 million years ago, including one with preserved jaws and head crest soft tissue.
- It was one of the last designs by the late Kongjian Yu, founder of Turenscape and creator of China's 'sponge cities' concept.
Entities
Artists
- Wang Xiaolin
- Huai Kaifeng
- Wang Yujia
- Kongjian Yu
- Jiinyi Hwang
Institutions
- Turenscape
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Locations
- Hami
- China
- Gobi desert
- Beijing
- Rotterdam
- Netherlands
- Bangkok
- Thailand
- Iran
- United Kingdom