Mexico

ABOUT

A visual icon emerges in the heart of León, Mexico

As a centerpiece within the Centro de Ciencias, the Dragonfly Museum stands as a bold testament to creativity, engineering precision, and immersive education. Designed with children in mind, the museum’s visually arresting exterior draws inspiration from the intricate anatomy of its namesake—the dragonfly—inviting young minds to explore, question, and learn.

From concept to completion, the 13,261-square-foot new-build project aimed to deliver more than just a structure. It set out to create a sensory experience that fuses natural science and design innovation through interactive architecture. Designed and fabricated by Dunn Lightweight in collaboration with Loguer Design, the museum’s facade features twelve freestanding wing-like structures clad in Serge Ferrari Group’s Tenseo Frontside 381, a textile material selected for its versatility, printability, and durability.

A museum built to inspire young minds

Designed as an educational destination, the Dragonfly Museum captivates children through its immersive design, transforming scientific curiosity into an architectural marvel. Each of the twelve printed mesh-clad “wings” mirrors the texture and structure of real dragonfly wings, adding educational value to an already visually striking element.

The structures, averaging 102 m² each, feature sweeping, rhomboid geometries ranging from 20 to 30 meters in length and up to 8 meters in height. This highly custom and complex form was essential in reinforcing the museum’s mission to engage through wonder and discovery.

Meeting design challenges with collaboration and precision

Creating a printed facade that would wrap seamlessly around complex 3D geometries presented one of the project’s greatest challenges. While the dragonfly wing pattern was designed in 2D, it needed to be meticulously aligned once applied to the curved structures. This process demanded exceptional coordination between design and fabrication teams, who worked closely to ensure the pattern printed on the Serge Ferrari Group’s composite membrane would match flawlessly upon installation.

Clean seams, impeccable print alignment, and material integrity were paramount, especially given the installation’s role as the museum’s visual centerpiece. The result is a series of wings that not only resemble natural dragonfly anatomy but elevate it to an architectural scale.

The enduring value of a longstanding partnership

Dunn Lightweight’s relationship with Serge Ferrari Group spans over two decades, built on trust, performance, and shared dedication to innovation. For this project, Serge Ferrari Group recommended a specialized version of Tenseo Frontside 381 to meet the precise requirements for high-resolution printing, shading performance, and color customization.

“Our team embraces every challenge with passion and precision,” said Horacio Lopez, Project Director and Founding Partner at Dunn Lightweight. “With the best technology at our fingertips and the highest-quality materials from Serge Ferrari Group, we’re able to bring our most ambitious visions to life.”

A material solution that brings design to life

The benefits of Serge Ferrari Group’s Tenseo Frontside 381 were instrumental in achieving the project’s aesthetic and functional goals. The mesh allowed optimal interior shading while preserving exterior visibility and visual intrigue. Just as critically, it enabled the custom dragonfly wing pattern to be printed directly onto the surface—an essential aspect in replicating the natural texture and appearance of insect wings at full scale.

Beyond visual performance, the textile material’s lightweight structure made it easier to install while meeting stringent quality and cleanliness standards. These properties proved invaluable across the twelve freestanding wings, each requiring exacting tolerances and a high degree of craftsmanship.

A celebrated work of art and science

The Dragonfly Museum’s innovative design and execution have not gone unnoticed. The project was honored with the 2024 ATA Award of Excellence for its use of printed textile mesh in a large-scale educational setting—a fitting tribute to a structure that brings science to life through form, color, and light.

More than just a building, the Dragonfly Museum exemplifies the synergy of material innovation and design imagination. Serge Ferrari Group’s contribution, from product guidance to performance excellence, played a pivotal role in delivering a space that educates, inspires, and endures.

Project Participants :

Architecture Firm: Dunn Lightweight / Loguer Design
Fabricator: Dunn Lightweight
Engineer: Dunn Lightweight
Installer: Dunn Lightweight
Manufacturer: Serge Ferrari Group
Contractor: Dunn Lightweight
Collaborating Designers: Francisco Lopez Guerra, Francisco Ornelas, Xavier Prieto
Copyright: Dunn Lightweight LLC