Physics Vaults Mamanu o Faaaliga by Wei Xiaodong

Physics Vaults Mamanu o Faaaliga by Wei Xiaodong is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Apamemea in Mamanu Totonu Competition Category.

ApamemeaTotonu· 2026

Physics Vaults Mamanu o Faaaliga

by Wei Xiaodong

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

A' Design Award Apamemea Winner in Totonu Category

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The Design

About Physics Vaults Mamanu o Faaaliga

O le Physics Vaults o se mamanu faaaliga mo se falemataaga faasaienisi i Shandong, Saina. E aofia ai le totonu i le tusa ma le 7,000 sikuea mita ma e iai ai potu faaaliga e lima, se sone ulufale ma se avanoa lapotopoto e faatosina atoa ai le tagata asiasi. O potu faaaliga ua faavaaina i se faasologa o faapoupou faaitiitia ua faia i le sasaa faatasi e tasi o le sima e aliali manino ona foliga. O atigi faapoupou nei e galue o le fausaga ma o ni avanoa natia mo auaunaga o le fale ma faiga o le tekonolosi. O masini tetele, ala savali uamea, uamea pupuna ma moli natia e taialaina ai tagata asiasi i vaaiga autu e lima o suesuega faataitai, ma faafaigofie ai le malamalama i mataupu lavelave o le fisiki.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Apamemea

O le A' Design Award Apamemea na manumalo ai Physics Vaults Mamanu o Faaaliga, o se faamaoniga matuā mamalu e tuuina atu i mamanu ese e iloga i le fatufatuaʻi, le atamai ma le poto. O ē manumalo i le Apamemea o mea e iai le tomai atoa ma fatufatuaʻi mataʻina e faamaonia ai le poto masani tele, le mafaufau ma le atamai o tagata mamanu. E faamoemoeina Physics Vaults Mamanu o Faaaliga e avea ma mea e vivii tele, ua pelepelea, e iloga i le tomai faapolofesa ma mea fou. O lenei mamanu na manumalo i le A' Design Award Apamemea e tuufaatasia ai faiga sili i le faatufugaga, saienisi, mamanu ma tekonolosi ma e sili ona lelei i le mataituina o mea itiiti. Physics Vaults Mamanu o Faaaliga e faamalieina matagofie manaʻoga, pa i manaʻo, faalataina lagona ma faaosofia le fia iloa.

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