Xu Wei Art Museum

Press Kit

Unique Properties

As for the distribution and functions of the areas, the overall design is as free and refreshing as Xu Wei's art works, in quest of a flowing atmosphere rather than meaningless and strange forms. The transparent ground floor connects exhibition halls on both sides and the north and south squares. Thanks to the changing light and shadows, as well as the huge transparent glass, the whole space is connected in harmony. Here, a splendid picture is unfolding, bringing our memory back to the past.

Dimensions & Packaging

Project area: 8,000 square meters
Type: Art Museum

Tags

UAD, Xu Wei, Art Museum, herringbone slope, Qingteng Bookstore

Production Technology

Taking inspiration from Xu Wei's paintings, the designers set up an internal courtyard on both sides, respectively, reasonably dividing exhibition halls, enhancing interior transparency and adhering to the design idea of "merging courtyards with the interior". For example, landscaped structures are introduced into the interior framework system, providing visitors with more opportunities to explore the beauty of nature.

Design Challenge

Many attempts were made to select main materials for the veneers. At the beginning, the materials chose by the designers appeared gray and dark, far from the desired effect. Later, in response, the veneers were re-polished on the site and re-clad with coatings, with the purpose of producing a visual effect as pure, clean and white as Chinese traditional rice papers.

Project Duration

Design Cycle: April 2020-April 2021
Completion time: October 2021
Locayion: No. 33, Houguan Lane, Yuecheng District, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province

Operation Flow

The museum and the surrounding landscapes are intertwined, creating a number of gray spaces that embody the Oriental aesthetic functions of "hiding, resting, self-cultivating and wandering" that are specific to Chinese traditional architecture. The designers create a complete and coherent spatial experience related with the architecture and landscapes for tourists, with the aid of the spatial construction technique known as "viewpoint transformation."

Research

As for the whole space, the design team implements the holistic design philosophy of integrating architecture, the interior, and display space. Along the stairs, the rough plain-white textures on the surface extend to the second floor. The long, narrow hallway and the double-pitched roof are combined to create a framed view which encompasses both tourists and landscapes, and create a setting with various uses, including resting, gathering, viewing and taking pictures.

Inspiration

In order to achieve the aesthetic aim of "though made by man, it seems to be created by nature," the project takes cues from the essence of Oriental aesthetics of "unity of man and nature." The designers convert all elements into simple, white geometric ones, so as to highlight various scenes. The design not only responds to Xu Wei's artistic idea of "adopting basic colors," but incorporates into the local historical context and renders an ethereal art world with "blank" as a carrier.

Image Credits

Zhao Qiang

Colors of Xu Wei Art Museum

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