A Solar Powered Metallic Cloud Museum for Xiamen China

<br>"Floating" above the city of Xiamen, China like a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/11/11/zero-power-digital-cloud-shows-images-and-data-in-the-london-skyline/">cloud</a>, this lofty museum takes art and culture to new heights. The brainchild of <a href="http://www.i-mad.com/">MAD Architects</a>, the structure's organic, molten metal shape is mirrored, reflecting the beauty of the surrounding environment right onto its walls. The museum will make good use of the city's sunny climate by placing solar panels on its roof, and because it rests upon 5 relatively slender "legs," residents of the city still have space to enjoy the natural landscape of the park-like site.

While the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2008/03/25/miami-art-museum-by-herzog-de-meuron/">museum</a> looks pretty flat, it will actually have three levels since it will make use of the park below and the rooftop as well.

The ground floor will have landscaped public space along with amphitheatres, open sports fields and meeting spaces.

The middle level, which will actually be contained within the "<a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/01/05/a-volcanic-eco-stadium-for-zagreb/">cloud</a>," will house exhibition spaces, cafes, restaurants and offices.

Visitors will be able to reach the middle level via elevators inside the buildings stalk-like supports.

On the roof level, visitors will have access to a sort of second artificial landscape. Lakes, greenery and wetlands will blanket the top of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/02/10/bigs-cloudscape-for-ps1-can-be-recycled-into-messenger-bags/">cloud</a>, all hovering high above the ground.

The roof will also house an array of <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/solar-power">solar panels</a>, which will take advantage of Xiamen's warm climate.