drone video documents construction progress on ennead's shanghai planetarium

construction work is well underway in china at the site of the shanghai planetarium, a new 38,000 square meter museum designed by ennead architects. when complete in 2020, the institution will become the astronomical branch for the shanghai science and technology museum (SSTM) and will provide the city’s lingang district with a new cultural identity. a new drone video, which can been seen above, documents the project’s progress to date.

the shanghai planetarium is a new 38,000 square meter museum
image by lingxiao xie

ennead’s competition-winning scheme references astronomical principles, evoking the experience of orbital motion. each of the building’s three principal forms — the oculus, the inverted dome, and the sphere — act as astronomical instruments, tracking the sun, moon, and stars. in turn, the building’s form, program, and circulation support the flow of visitors through its galleries — allowing them to fully experience these three central bodies.

the institution will become the astronomical branch for the shanghai science and technology museum
image by lingxiao xie

‘construction has been progressing at a rapid pace for the past year, with the entire reinforced concrete superstructure for the main building now complete,’ explains thomas wong design partner at ennead. ‘structural steel components are beginning to be added, including the steel ring truss at the building’s 35 meter cantilever and the steel sphere framing which houses the planetarium theater. auxiliary buildings throughout the site — such as the overnight youth camp and the solar telescope and optical telescope towers — are also taking shape.’

the scheme will provide the city’s lingang district with a new cultural identity
image by lingxiao xie

‘starting this fall, installation of the exterior cladding will commence, including the faceted anodized aluminum panels that form the spiraling ribbon facade,’ thomas wong continues. ‘once the base building is substantially complete, exhibit fit out will begin, with the project on track to be finished and open to the public in 2020.’ see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.

the design references astronomical principles, evoking the experience of orbital motion
image by lingxiao xie

each of the building’s three principal forms act as astronomical instruments
image by lingxiao xie

the entire reinforced concrete superstructure for the main building is now complete
image courtesy of ennead architects

the building’s exterior cladding will be added later this year
image courtesy of ennead architects

the project is on track to open to the public in 2020
image courtesy of ennead architects

rendering indicating the anticipated appearance of the completed scheme
image by ATCHAIN for ennead architects