How the Shenzhen Natural History Museum was designed to reflect its landscape
The architects behind the new museum talk about the Shenzhen landmark’s unique design that reflects its green and water-edged location
The 3.5 billion yuan (US$518 million) cultural landmark in the city’s Pingshan district is striking because of its size – the 42,000 square metre (452,000 sq ft) site is the equivalent of six football fields – and the fact that it is a masterclass in biomimicry and sustainable design that seamlessly blends the built environment with the local landscape.
The public museum was built after an international design competition that drew more than 70 proposals. The winner was a consortium led by renowned Danish architectural firm 3XN working with B+H Architects, which is part of Singapore’s Surbana Jurong, and Shenzhen firm Zhubo Design.
The museum’s organic form reflects its location in a green zone surrounded by water – Yanzi Lake is on one side, while the Dunzi wetland area is nearby. Its free-flowing curves mirror the local river systems and surrounding hills, a delta design that already earned gold at the 2024 Urban Design & Architecture Design Awards.