On the occasion of the Worldcon (World Science Fiction Convention) and the Hugo Awards, the much-anticipated ZHA-designed Chengdu Science Fiction Museum opened in the capital of Sichuan Province, a major center of scientific and technological research and innovation with a population of over 20 million.

Located in the center of the Pidu district, near the enchanting Jingrong Lake on which it seems to float, the 59,000-square-meter museum aims to celebrate the legacy of Chengdu's science fiction culture. Although it appears star-shaped from above, from below it blends seamlessly into the landscape and the surrounding park, supported by open-air plazas at various levels.

The museum's distinctive form, achieved through digital modeling, is intended to symbolize a connection between our everyday experience and our potentially limitless imagination. The interior design also contributes to the effortless feeling of being “in a galaxy far, far away”. In addition, the project has achieved the highest level of Chinese certification for building sustainability.

Cover image is by Lan Dongjie.