Weihai, china
Art museum
Mountain hill contemporary museum of art
A Museum Inspired by Rushan Yangko and the Land
competition project
The art museum seamlessly integrates into its natural surroundings, with much of the structure thoughtfully embedded within the terrain to preserve the region’s landscape. The uppermost level serves as the museum’s welcoming face, housing essential facilities such as the main entrance, lobby, administration offices, a restaurant, and staff accommodations, all designed in the vernacular of traditional Chinese architecture. Visitors are greeted by a tranquil garden that guides them to the registration desk, where they can choose one of three distinct routes—ramps, stairs, or an elevator—to begin their journey. The ramps, a defining feature of the design, weave gracefully through the building, evoking the fluid movements of the traditional Chinese dance "Rushan Yangko," symbolizing the dancers’ connection to the city. Inside, natural light pours through strategically placed balconies, skylights, and windows, creating a bright, airy atmosphere while also supporting passive ventilation. The museum’s design is a celebration of cultural heritage and a thoughtful dialogue between architecture and its surrounding environment.
Existing terrain
Visible
Solids
Inner spaces
The diagram sequence illustrates the integration of the museum's design with its natural landscape and the transformative journey of the terrain. The first image highlights the untouched section of the terrain, showcasing an existing seasonal water stream that emerges during the rainy season. The second diagram introduces the initial intervention, with small portions of the building volumes protruding from the terrain, subtly engaging with the natural topography. In the third diagram, the full extent of the building is revealed, where most of the structure is embedded underground, with select volumes emerging above the terrain to maintain harmony with the environment. The fourth diagram provides a longitudinal section of the completed project, showcasing all levels of the building and the carefully integrated water stream, which is brought into the interior to create a dynamic connection between the natural element and the architectural spaces. This sequence emphasizes the project's respectful dialogue with its surroundings and its innovative approach to blending nature with design.
Bridging Nature and Space: Architecture Rooted in the Landscape
1ST EXHIBITION SPACE
GROUND FLOOR
2ND EXHIBBITION SPACE
4TH EXHIBITION SPACE
Immersion in the museum
The architectural project for the museum begins with the protruding volumes, designed in traditional Chinese style with concave slanted roofs. This level features a foyer with a garden. Connected to this area are a restaurant and terraces that offer stunning views of the rice fields.
As visitors follow the ramp, they are seamlessly immersed in the atmosphere of the museum as they descend underground. Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by a spiral ramp that showcases a charming art object at its center. Continuing along the ramp, guests are smoothly led into the main section of the building, known as the atrium.
Here, the art museum’s unique and fascinating atmosphere first becomes apparent. Within the main atrium, visitors are welcomed by a stage and a fountain that cascades water down the ramp.
This gradual diving leads them into the primary exhibition space, featuring a grid of columns inspired by traditional Chinese architecture. Within this space, visitors can also step out onto a patio and admire the picturesque landscape of Weihai.
Moving down to the main floor, visitors are immersed in a natural environment where the fountain merges with a river that accompanies them throughout their journey.
At the end of the exhibition route, guests have the option to venture outside and take a break from their captivating exploration.
Finally, visitors rise the ramp back to the foyer, concluding their journey through the exhibition.
As visitors follow the ramp, they are seamlessly immersed in the atmosphere of the museum as they descend underground. Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by a spiral ramp that showcases a charming art object at its center. Continuing along the ramp, guests are smoothly led into the main section of the building, known as the atrium.
Here, the art museum’s unique and fascinating atmosphere first becomes apparent. Within the main atrium, visitors are welcomed by a stage and a fountain that cascades water down the ramp.
This gradual diving leads them into the primary exhibition space, featuring a grid of columns inspired by traditional Chinese architecture. Within this space, visitors can also step out onto a patio and admire the picturesque landscape of Weihai.
Moving down to the main floor, visitors are immersed in a natural environment where the fountain merges with a river that accompanies them throughout their journey.
At the end of the exhibition route, guests have the option to venture outside and take a break from their captivating exploration.
Finally, visitors rise the ramp back to the foyer, concluding their journey through the exhibition.
ENTRANCE
RESERVOIR
atrium
waterfall interior river
office
irrigation
irrigation
river
stage
sitting area
water ramp
exit
The museum accommodates the natural
environment by replicating an existing rainwater stream within its boundaries, surrounded by raw soil, blurring the boundaries between the interior and exterior spaces. Rainwater is collected in a reservoir, serving as both a source for the interior water stream and irrigating the adjacent fields.
environment by replicating an existing rainwater stream within its boundaries, surrounded by raw soil, blurring the boundaries between the interior and exterior spaces. Rainwater is collected in a reservoir, serving as both a source for the interior water stream and irrigating the adjacent fields.
Retractable system
The roll-out system is a column-installed solution that efficiently partitions the available space into multiple customizable variations.
The exhibition area is designed around structural columns, providing a framework for the formation of exhibitions. The space’s adaptability is facilitated by modular elements, allowing expandable panels to be deployed, thus gives the possibility to create distinct pathways for different exhibitions at any time. These versatile modules enable adjustments along both the horizontal and vertical axes, so the pathway could be diverted or fully stopped with the dead end.
The exhibition area is designed around structural columns, providing a framework for the formation of exhibitions. The space’s adaptability is facilitated by modular elements, allowing expandable panels to be deployed, thus gives the possibility to create distinct pathways for different exhibitions at any time. These versatile modules enable adjustments along both the horizontal and vertical axes, so the pathway could be diverted or fully stopped with the dead end.
