Physics Vaults Te Hoahoa Whakaaturanga by Wei Xiaodong

Physics Vaults Te Hoahoa Whakaaturanga by Wei Xiaodong is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Roto Whare me te Whakaaturanga Competition Category.

ParahiRoto Whare· 2026

Physics Vaults Te Hoahoa Whakaaturanga

by Wei Xiaodong

Client: Beijing Four-Face lmage Environmental Art Design Co., Ltd.

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Roto Whare Category

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Colors

The Design

About Physics Vaults Te Hoahoa Whakaaturanga

Ko Physics Vaults he hoahoa whakaaturanga mō tētahi whare taonga pūtaiao i Shandong, Haina. E 7,000 mita pūrua te rahi o te wāhi o roto, ā, e rima ngā wharenui whakaaturanga, tētahi rohe tomokanga me tētahi wāhi porowhita rumaki. Kua hangaia ngā wharenui ki te raupapa o ngā pikitanga e whakaiti haere ana, i whakarewaina i te ringihanga kotahi o te raima kanohi-mā. Ka mahi ngā anga pikitanga hei hanganga, hei kōpaki huna hoki mō ngā ratonga whare me ngā pūnaha pāpāho. Mā ngā taputapu rahi, ngā ara hīkoi rino, te whakarewa kōputaputa me ngā rama huna e ārahi ngā manuhiri mā ngā whakaaturanga whakamātau matua e rima, kia māmā ake ai te mārama ki ngā kaupapa ahupūngao uaua.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Physics Vaults Te Hoahoa Whakaaturanga te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Physics Vaults Te Hoahoa Whakaaturanga he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Physics Vaults Te Hoahoa Whakaaturanga i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Based on five key experiment scenes, including particle accelerators, the design features a sequence of halls framed by diminishing concrete arches. By integrating realistic large-scale apparatus with raw architectural form, the space fuses artistic immersion, scientific cognition, and philosophical speculation. This creates a top-tier innovative science museum experience, transforming engineering physics into a profound dialogue on humanity's shared pursuit of truth.
Dimensions & Packaging: The interior comprises five main exhibition halls, an entrance zone and an immersive ring space, with a total designed area of approximately 7,000 square meters.
Tags: Exhibition Design, Science Museum, Fair-faced Concrete, Particle Physics, Arch Structure, Spatial Narrative, Immersive Experience, Engineering Aesthetics, Integration
Production Technology: Arched shells are cast in a single pour of fair-faced concrete, serving as both primary structure and hidden cavity for MEP and media systems. Realistic large-scale apparatus is set directly against these raw surfaces to meet core science-education needs, while steel walkways, perforated metal and concealed lighting add an almost theatrical vividness, unifying exhibition and construction into one engineering-physics narrative.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was to integrate exhibition content and construction into a single system rather than simply adding displays to a finished shell. Large-span concrete arches had to work simultaneously as structure and service cavity while still supporting clear sightlines and narrative flow. At the same time, expert-level physics content needed to remain scientifically precise yet legible to non-specialist visitors.
Research: The research focuses on exhibition and experiential space design, exploring how spatial language can connect advanced physics experiments with everyday public understanding. Grounded in scientific rigor and empirical observation, it examines how scale, material and narrative flow shape cognition and emotion, turning the science museum into a bridge between researchers and society and passing scientific spirit to younger generations.
Inspiration: Inspiration comes from the spatial language of high-energy physics infrastructure. Arches echo underground tunnels and protective bunkers, while exposed concrete conveys engineering rationality and authenticity. The space turns complex, expert-level knowledge into accessible experience, letting each visitor feel both their own scale and humanity's shared quest to understand the universe.
Project Duration: The project started in 2015 in Shandong, China and finished in 2021.
Operation Flow: The design employs a dynamic narrative where spatial structure is isomorphic to the exhibition flow. Visitors traverse a sequence of diminishing arches, mirroring the focusing trajectory of particle beams. This progression connects five thematic halls, shifting focus from macro-scale apparatus to micro-scale artifacts. The journey flows from rational observation to immersive contemplation, ensuring physical movement aligns perfectly with the unfolding scientific story.
Patents: Wei Xiaodong
Team Members: Wei Xiaodong, Tan Ying, Yu Lihan, Chen Zhengye, Zhang Rong