The Exploratorium Museum is part of the Binhai Cultural Center in Tianjin: its "frame" and the Museum of Contemporary Art were designed by gmp, it also includes the snow-white MVRDV library, a performing arts center designed by the Canadian bureau Revery Architecture (formerly called Bing Thom Architects) and the community center (Hua Hui Architects from Shenzhen).
The Museum of Science and Technology received a facade made of copper-colored perforated aluminum panels. Its appearance is also determined by the truncated cones of the atriums. These volumes and colors are a reference to Tianjin's industrial past, while its present defines the exposition inside. For example, space rockets and other aerospace products will be exhibited in the atriums for the official opening of the Exploratorium this fall: the city is the main center of this industry in the PRC.
Cones-atriums provide the interior with natural light, in addition, the central one, with a spiral ramp, connects all levels and zones of the museum (total area - 33,000 m2). The architects emphasize that it is twice the size of the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Visitors have access to the roof, which plays the role of a viewing terrace. Cones also use the principle of solar ventilation to collect warm air, which can be removed from the building in summer and returned to the premises in winter.
