The centerpiece will be a giant spherical planetarium, a pioneer in South America in cutting-edge technology; the surface to be built is 14,000 square meters; it will have exhibition halls, a library, a hard sciences laboratory, a park and elevated gardens, terraces, gift shops, astronomical observation spaces, a cafeteria and a restaurant with a view of the bay of Asunción. The inauguration of the Asunción Science Museum is estimated for the year 2027 or early 2028.
The architectural design of the future headquarters of the Asunción Science Museum, known as “MuCi”, was unveiled during an event at the Grand Theater of the Central Bank of Paraguay, which was attended by the President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, and other representatives of the State and civil society, among other guests.
The 14,000-square-meter project’s main feature is a giant spherical planetarium that will mark a milestone in South America, with cutting-edge technology. Several exhibition rooms, a library, a hard sciences laboratory, elevated gardens and a public access park are also included; in addition to aquatic recreational spaces, astronomical observation areas, a nursery with native plants, a cafeteria and a restaurant with a view of the Bay of Asunción.
The architectural design is the result of study trips made by the team and founders to more than 30 museums in the United States, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Colombia.
The valuable lessons learned from TatakuaLab and San Cosmos were also taken into account, two prototype spaces that welcomed more than 40,000 people who have already attended science exhibits and shows at the planetarium since 2022.
MuCi director Paola Martínez said that it is a social and avant-garde museum from its conception and they want a space that opens its arms to people, in a continuous process of shared time, not sporadic or one-off visits.
He also indicated that a sustainable construction approach, with indigenous and native elements, will allow for an environmentally friendly building, without forgetting the cutting-edge technology that will compose it.
Asunción Science Museum’s Planetarium Technology
The architect in charge of the project, Luis Ayala, said that the future planetarium will have a capacity for 150 people per show. He said that it is a sphere with a diameter of 18 meters, approximately the size of a 6-story building, with seats in stands like in a stadium.
People sit and look up at the top of the sphere and the image they see extends from their feet to the ceiling. It is a completely immersive technology, with such high image resolution that one stops perceiving that it is reality and projection. In other words, one is totally immersed in that space, he said.
The planetarium screen is a curved LED screen, using the same technology used in the sphere in Las Vegas, United States. The sound and air conditioning flow through the LED panels, so when you enter the room it seems that the only thing in the space is a giant screen without interruptions, he added.
The planetarium will use a state-of-the-art digital system that creates a detailed 3D model of the universe through high-resolution images captured by telescopes such as the Hubble and James Webb. Thanks to this technology, the public will be able to take virtual trips into space, exploring planets, stars and galaxies.
In addition to astronomical functions, the planetarium will also be able to project IMAX films and live broadcasts of sporting events and concerts. This makes the Asunción Science Museum a multifunctional space, capable of offering a wide variety of educational and entertainment experiences.
Asunción Science Museum will generate jobs for 200 people
The director of the Asunción Science Museum also explained that the construction of the museum will require an investment of around US$20 million, largely financed by a donation from the Peery Foundation of the United States. The museum will also seek the help of local individuals and companies through a transparent fundraising program that will make each contribution visible in different spaces of the museum.
Regarding the impact of the project, Ayala stressed that the construction will generate jobs for approximately 150 to 200 people, mostly from the surrounding area.
Officials also pointed out that the start of the work depends on the approval of plans by the capital’s municipality, as well as the approval of the Coastal Strip Master Plan.
For its part, the Asunción Science Museum will comply with the deadlines established in the resolution for the purchase of the land, which gives it until December of this year to present the project. If everything progresses on time and in the correct manner, the work is expected to begin in mid-2025, with the opening estimated for 2027.
