Shenzhen Natural History Museum Opens as a Ribbon-Like Landscape in Pingshan

The Shenzhen Natural History Museum has opened in Pingshan District, designed by the 3XN–B+H Architects–Zhubo Design Consortium. Its undulating form is intended to echo the area’s subtropical environment and biodiversity, with about 100,000 square metres of exhibition and visitor space. The project treats the building as part of the surrounding park landscape rather than a conventional square structure.

The museum occupies Pingshan District, where a subtropical monsoon climate supports layered ecology. 3XN led design; B+H Architects served as lead consultant, executive architect and landscape architect, with Zhubo Design. The roughly 100,000 sq m complex holds exhibition and visitor areas. Instead of a square block, it is treated as parkland shaped by Yanzi Hill and the Pingshan River.

Its roof is a free public park. The curving exterior uses granite and layered cladding to evoke a cliff rising from water. Five themed planting zones include rare, native and tropical species, plus plants cited in Chinese literature. Parametric tools and digital models were checked against site scans to align the design with existing topography.