MAD Architects’ Hainan Science Museum Is a Floating Spectacle

Supported by three concrete cores, the 46,528-square-meter complex creates the striking illusion of hovering over surrounding reflecting pools.

Summary

• MAD Architects’ Hainan Science Museum is now open in Haikou
• Its floating, biomorphic fiberglass shell uses three cores to eliminate interior column.
• A spiral ramp connects diverse galleries, a planetarium and outdoor education spaces

Ever wonder what it feels like to step inside a silver cloud hovering above a wetland? Designed by visionary architect Ma Yansong and his firm MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum creates exactly that floating illusion, having officially opened to the public in the tropical coastal city of Haikou, China.

Developed between 2019 and 2026, the sprawling 46,528-square-meter complex recently concluded a highly successful four-month soft opening period that attracted over 350,000 visitors. The museum is commissioned by the Haikou Association for Science and Technology, the museum was conceived as a vital piece of civic infrastructure for local families, strategically located near more than 30 schools and kindergartens.

Situated within a lush wetland environment, the museum’s architecture blends its natural tropical context with modern technological innovation. The six-story building features a striking biomorphic form intended to resemble an “updraft,” visually mimicking the upward movement of warm air from the Earth’s surface.

To achieve this fluid shape and combat the region’s rainy climate, the exterior is clad in a silver shell composed of 843 Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) panels, which are equipped with open seams and water-guiding grooves for effective drainage. The ring-shaped structure is supported entirely by three concrete cores; this advanced engineering eliminates the need for columns on the exhibition floors and creates the striking visual illusion that the entire museum is effortlessly floating above the surrounding reflecting pools and sunken plazas.

Inside, the museum offers a deeply immersive and thoughtfully choreographed visitor experience. At the heart of the building is a continuous spiral ramp that ascends like a twisting DNA strand, connecting the ground floor to the sixth level while being bathed in natural light from a central glass dome. This winding layout links all the main exhibition spaces, which feature offshoot galleries dedicated to subjects ranging from marine ecosystems and life sciences to aerospace technology.

The expansive facility is also equipped with a planetarium, a giant-screen cinema and interactive learning areas tailored to visitors of all ages. Beyond the interior, the museum extends its programming into the landscape with outdoor education spaces focused on plant science and tropical agriculture, fully realizing MAD Architects’ vision of a harmonious intersection between nature and the future.

Hainan Science Museum
8QF+RXV, Binhai Blvd, Longhua District,
Haikou, Hainan, China, 570101