Credit: Courtesy Ennead Architects” We really believed that we could utilize the architecture to bring extraordinary effect to this whole experience,” stated lead designer and partner Thomas J. Wong in a video interview.” By foregoing straight walls in favor of arcing lines, Wong and his group hoped to show that whatever in the universe is in constant movement and governed by a range of forces.According to Wong, they were also affected by the “three-body problem,” the as-yet-unsolved concern of how to mathematically compute the motion of 3 celestial entities– like stars, planets or moons– based on their gravitational relationships to one another.” In Wongs design, the cosmic riddle equates into three arcing shapes: an oculus, sphere and inverted dome, referencing the sun, moon and stars, respectively.” We want people to understand the unique nature of the Earth as a place that hosts life, unlike any other place that we know of in the universe,” Wong said.The inverted glass dome provides visitors the chance to gaze at an unblocked view of the open sky.

Written by Jacqui Palumbo, CNNThe worlds largest astronomy museum is opening in Shanghai, and its complex curvilinear shape has been created to show the geometry of the cosmos. Without any ideal angles or straight lines used throughout, the structure is rather formed from 3 overlapping arcs that allude to the orbits of celestial bodies.Opening Friday, the 420,000-square-foot Shanghai Astronomy Museum– a branch of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum– will house exhibits, a planetarium, an observatory and a 78-foot-tall solar telescope. It was conceived by US firm Ennead Architects, which in 2014 won a global competitors to design the building.The Shanghai Astronomy Museum was deliberately created without straight lines or best angles. Credit: Courtesy Ennead Architects” We actually thought that we might utilize the architecture to bring unbelievable impact to this whole experience,” stated lead designer and partner Thomas J. Wong in a video interview. “The building is implied to be this embodiment of … astronomically influenced architecture.” By foregoing straight walls in favor of arcing lines, Wong and his team wished to show that whatever in the universe remains in continuous motion and governed by a variety of forces.According to Wong, they were also influenced by the “three-body issue,” the as-yet-unsolved concern of how to mathematically calculate the motion of three celestial entities– like planets, moons or stars– based on their gravitational relationships to one another. While this calculation can be performed with 2 heavenly bodies, the paths become unforeseeable and chaotic with 3. The oculus in the primary entrance functions as a timepiece, with a circle of light suggesting the season and time of day. Credit: Courtesy Ennead Architects” The reason why we thought the three-body issue was interesting is because its a complex set of orbits,” Wong explained. “( These are) relationships that are dynamic, as opposed to a basic circle around the center. And that was part of the (styles) intent– to catch that intricacy.” In Wongs design, the cosmic riddle translates into three arcing shapes: an oculus, sphere and inverted dome, referencing the sun, moon and stars, respectively. Each houses an essential visitor destination or design function. Visitors first come across the oculus, which opens up above the museums primary entrance. It acts as a watch, producing a circle of sunlight that travels across the flooring throughout the day, indicating the time and season. The planetarium, housed in a big sphere, was built with minimal visible assistance in order to appear weightless. Credit: Courtesy Ennead ArchitectsNext comes the planetarium theater, which is confined in a sphere and emerges from the structures roofing like a moonrise. The underbelly of the massive structure appears to float weightlessly, with room to stroll beneath. A huge inverted glass dome on the roofings peak offers visitors the opportunity to see the open night sky, in what a press release explained as “a real encounter with the universe to conclude the simulated experience within.”” We desire individuals to comprehend the special nature of the Earth as a place that hosts life, unlike any other location that we understand of in deep space,” Wong said.The inverted glass dome uses visitors the chance to look at an unobstructed view of the open sky. Credit: Courtesy Ennead ArchitectsWith offices in both the US and China, Ennead Architects is also accountable for New Yorks famed Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History, a project co-designed by one of the companys founders, James Polshek. Wong stated there is “a family tree” between the 2 structures.” Polshek described the Rose Center as a cosmic cathedral,” Wong stated. “Thats very suitable to the experience here at the Shanghai Astronomy Museum.”