MAD's Spiraling Hainan Science Museum Opens in Haikou

The Hainan Science Museum, designed by MAD Architects and led by Ma Yansong, has officially opened in Haikou, China, adjacent to Wuyuan River National Wetland Park. Since its soft launch, the museum has attracted over 350,000 visitors, with some days seeing attendance surpassing 5,800. From an aerial view, the structure resembles a compressed coil, featuring a shell-like facade made up of 843 fiber-reinforced polymer panels that seem to float. A continuous spiraling pathway connects all galleries, allowing guests to start at the top and gradually explore ring-shaped exhibition areas dedicated to deep space, oceans, rainforests, tropical agriculture, and children's exhibits. The design includes three concrete core tubes that provide support while keeping the exhibition floors free of columns. Located in an area with over thirty schools and kindergartens within a two-mile radius, the museum also boasts a planetarium, a giant-screen cinema, a sunken plaza, and shaded outdoor planting spaces. Ma Yansong emphasized that the concept behind the project revolves around the themes of flow and chaos, integrating space, function, and knowledge seamlessly. The museum is set to be completed in 2026 and has been photographed by Arch-Exist and Moden Wang.