Three facades represent three facets of nature: the interior wall represents the cellular network of plants and animals while also filtering natural light and minimizing summertime solar gain; the east wall is covered with a metal trellis and vines, representing the Earth and improving the microclimate, and the north wall, comprised of stone, mimics shifting tectonic plates and canyons sculpted by eons of erosion. A bioclimatic structure that responds to the variable elements, this space holds exhibition facilities, a 4D theater and a large glass-walled atrium. An outdoor exhibit garden extends the museum outdoors.
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Pushing the boundaries of museum design in a way we’ve never really seen before, Perkins & Will brings the forces of nature to bear in a sustainable design that recycles grey water and collects rainwater, regulates the interior temperature with a geothermal system, uses evaporative cooling, and also showcases energy features as part of the museum’s numerous exhibits. Located in the Jing An Sculpture Park, the renovated museum boasts 20 times as much exhibition space as the former museum, a favorite among locals. No doubt they will be enthralled by the new space, which is a masterpiece.
+ Perkins & Will
Via Arch Daily
Images via James and Connor Steinkamp
