华北自然生态博物馆位于平遥古城外15分钟车程的天鹭湖文化创意园。博物馆由中国猫科动物保护联盟（下简称猫盟）筹备和运营。
The Northern China Ecology Museum is a 15-minute drive North from the Pingyao Historical Town, within the Tianlu Lake Cultural Precinct. The Museum is operated and managed by the China Felid Conservation Alliance (CFCA) a non-for-profit organisation focused on conservancy efforts in China with relation to the research and protection of Felidae species. As a non-government affiliated organisation, CFCA was very interested in exploring nature and ecological educational possibilities different and complementary to the typical state operated ones in China.
▼概念图，Concept © 青亭建筑
▼基地总图，Masterplan © 青亭建筑
博物馆试图创造一种新型的沉浸式生态教育空间。在生态模型创造的奇幻世界中、轻松、身临其境的体验中，公众得以了解华北生态系统，了解人类与自然生态的共生关系。在这个“第二自然”中，原有的建筑空间框架被淡化，模型和展览内容成为焦点。生态模型的上下起伏塑造出空间，随山地上下起伏，随着森林压缩，也随着湿地、农田开阔。模型中植入了最典型的生态成员，从泥土，到菌类，植物，动物，大至树木，小到昆虫，青苔。有限的空间里被折叠进无穷的细节，每个人都能在博物馆里找到属于自己的森林，原本普通的空间便被转变成一个“第二自然”：
▼博物馆轴测，Museum axon © 青亭建筑
▼展览展开立面 Exhibition elevations © 青亭建筑
The Museum aims to provide a new kind of ecological educational experience. By creating an engaging ecological wonderland, the museum seeks to create an immersive, engaging, and enjoyable experience that cultivates in visitors a greater interest and understanding of the Northern Chinese Ecological System and a deeper appreciation of the delicate coexistence of Humankind and Nature.
The Museum space is designed such that the primary display medium of Ecological Diorama models constitutes the experiential space enveloping the audience. The existing architectural space fades into the background, whilst the Ecological Diorama models and exhibits become the focus. A “ravine” pathway is carved out in between the models along which, the stories of the three primary ecological systems of Northern China are narrated: The Mountainous Region, The Wetlands, and The Farmlands, inserted in between are a Nocturnal Wildlife area, and a concluding Urban Ecosystems area.
The walls rise and fall with the terrain of the mountains, the space compresses with the density of the forest, and become expansive as one arrives at the wetlands and farmland areas. Each Ecological Diorama model is filled with the typical constituent members of the particular ecological zone, from the modelled soil type, to the moss and fungi details, to the models of insect species, mammals, and trees, an infinite amount of detail is incorporated into a limited space. Alongside the model and print display information are interactive media devices, as well as concealed acoustic and aroma dispensing devices that mimic the sounds and smells of the forest. Each visitor is thus able to discover his or her own little patch of forest within this immersive diorama world. A previously banal space is transformed into a “Second Nature”.
▼山地+夜间生态展区 Mountain Land + Nocturnal Ecosystem © 青亭建筑
▼湿地+生态缸生态展区 Wetland + Ecological Cylinder © 青亭建筑
▼农田+城市生态展区 Farmland + Urban Ecosystem © 青亭建筑
▼生态模型构造轴测 Ecological model axon © 青亭建筑
▼生态模型构造 model sections © 青亭建筑
华北自然生态博物馆希望引领一种新的自然环境教育场所，它们可以不是政府机构掌控的庞然大物，不一定拥有雄厚的经济能力进行崭新建设，也没有官方科研所的丰富资源。但是这些新机构小巧灵活，能基于对本地生态系统的在地经验和知识，因地制宜的去创造吸引人的自然生态教育体验。他们能够广泛和灵活的介入到公众的日常生活中，起到有别于官方组织的另外一种微型角色，但是同样引领大家前往更美好的未来。
The Northern China Ecology Museum aims to pioneer a different kind of nature and ecological education facility in China, these are not necessarily top-heavy state institutions that have substantial financial and political power, nor are they official research body think tanks. However, these new organisations are highly flexible and adaptable, they have substantial expertise and knowledge of local conditions, and are able to curate and create engaging ecological education experiences specific and relevant to the local context. By being able to embed themselves much more intimately and informally into the daily lives of the wider public, conservancy and educational bodies such as CFCA and the Northern China Ecology Museum are able to play a complementary role to that of official bodies, and together, work towards the possibility of a brighter future for human habitation.
▼展区入口空间效果图 Entrance to the exhibition hall © 青亭建筑
▼山地生态空间效果图 Exhibition Area：Mountain Ecosystem © 青亭建筑
▼湿地生态空间效果图 Exhibition Area：Wetland Ecosystem © 青亭建筑
▼首层空间策略，Ground floor layout © 青亭建筑
▼首层平面，Ground floor plan © 青亭建筑
▼二层博物馆平面，Plan 2F © 青亭建筑
▼空间剖面，sections © 青亭建筑
