Shenzhen Natural History Museum Opens with Granite-Clad, Landscape-Inspired Form
The Shenzhen Natural History Museum, crafted by 3XN, B+H Architects, and Zhubo Design, has been inaugurated in the Pingshan District. Spanning 100,000 square meters, it stands as the largest natural history museum in southern China, adjacent to Yanzi Lake. Its flowing, granite-covered structure features a sloped roof and terraces, inspired by the surrounding hills and rivers. The design team secured the project in a competition held in 2020. According to 3XN founder Kim Herforth Nielsen, the goal was to create "a piece of landscape" influenced by local geology, water, and time. The museum comprises five cone-shaped volumes interconnected by cave-like corridors and atriums, with galleries developed alongside Atelier Brückner and Museum Studio, showcasing immersive exhibits on Shenzhen's natural history. Museum director Nan Zhaoxu emphasized that the architecture brings Earth's 4.6-billion-year history to life, transforming the space into a dynamic educational landscape. Photography credits go to Adam Mørk.
Key facts
- Shenzhen Natural History Museum has opened in Pingshan District, Shenzhen, China.
- The 100,000-square-metre building is the largest natural history museum in southern China.
- It was designed by architecture studios 3XN, B+H Architects, and Zhubo Design.
- The design team won a competition for the project in 2020.
- The museum is clad in strips of granite and features a sloping roof and terraces.
- Its form is intended to evoke nearby rivers and hills, described as 'a piece of landscape'.
- The interior is organized around five cone-shaped volumes linked by cave-like passages and atriums.
- Galleries were developed with Atelier Brückner and Museum Studio as immersive, media-rich environments.
- Exhibits cover natural history and the ecology of Shenzhen and its surrounding region.
- Museum director is Nan Zhaoxu.
- Photography is by Adam Mørk.
Entities
Artists
- Kim Herforth Nielsen
- Nan Zhaoxu
- Adam Mørk
Institutions
- 3XN
- B+H Architects
- Zhubo Design
- Shenzhen Natural History Museum
- Atelier Brückner
- Museum Studio
- Dezeen
- designboom
Locations
- Shenzhen
- China
- Pingshan District
- Yanzi Lake
Sources
- Designboom —
- Dezeen —
- Designboom —