Minsheng Museum of Modern Art in Beijing, China by Studio Zhu-Pei

Article source: Studio Zhu-Pei

The construction of the Minsheng Museum of Modern Art in Beijing, the biggest private museum in China, was financed by the Minsheng Bank. The museum building is a converted former Panasonic factory built in 1979. We used the factory hall with its simple concrete skeleton structure and modular façade almost as found, adding only a few interventions to make the new use visible. The museum design divides the building volume into different functions, which are supported by an external courtyard-like space, a roof terrace and a sculpture park. The renovation preserved the industrial character of the building, contrasting this in occasional places with new materials. The strongest intervention was needed for a new lobby that signals the entrance from the outside. It consists of interlocking cubes that blend together to form a multi-storey space. Generous, conical stairways are illuminated by skylights, and encourage informal use. The three exhibition rooms, the courtyard and the book-store are accessed from the lobby. Additional functions, including the auditorium, media library, cafeteria and restaurant are accessed from a corridor along the courtyard.

Exterior, Image Courtesy © Studio Zhu-Pei

• Architects: Studio Zhu-Pei
• Project: Minsheng Museum of Modern Art
• Location: Beijing, China
• Photography: Zhu Qingsheng, Studio Zhu-Pei
  
• Client: China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd.
  
• Design Principal: Zhu Pei
• Project Team: Edwin Lam, He Fan, Damboianu Albert Alexandru, Virginia Melnyk, Guo Nan, Ke Jun, Wang Peng, Li Gao.
• Art Director and Museum Consultant: Thomas Krens/GCAM
• Engineers: Shanghai construction design and research institute co., LTD, BIAD John Martin international architectural design co., LTD
• Consultant(s): Lighting: United Artists Lighting Design Co., Ltd
• Acoustical: Arup
• Gross Square Footage: 32,910sqm
• Design: 2011-2012
• Construction: 2014-April, 2015

Exterior, Image Courtesy © Studio Zhu-Pei

During the renovation process, we kept many existing traces of use, thus lending the museum a rougher character. The modular façade glazing calls to mind the former industrial use. This serial expression contrasts with the special treatment of the inserted cubes that form the lobby, which are clad with aluminium panels of only five millimetres thickness. Their striking velvety expression is further enhanced by the blurry reflections that layer over the diagonal grid pattern of the panels, reminiscent of textile qualities of traditional quilted silk jackets in the sun.

Main entrance, Image Courtesy © Zhu Qingsheng

1F Lobby and atrium, Image Courtesy © Zhu Qingsheng

Lobby and atrium, Image Courtesy © Studio Zhu-Pei

1F Lobby, Image Courtesy © Studio Zhu-Pei

1F Lobby, Image Courtesy © Studio Zhu-Pei

Main stair &Exhibition terrace & Amphitheatre, Image Courtesy © Zhu Qingsheng

Atrium, Image Courtesy © Fang-Zhenning

Opening Ceremony, Image Courtesy © Studio Zhu-Pei

New in Old, Image Courtesy © Qingzhu Image

Courtyard & Outdoor exhibiton space, Image Courtesy © Qingzhu Image

Image Courtesy © Studio Zhu-Pei

Image Courtesy © Studio Zhu-Pei

Image Courtesy © Studio Zhu-Pei

Image Courtesy © Studio Zhu-Pei

Image Courtesy © Studio Zhu-Pei

Image Courtesy © Studio Zhu-Pei

Image Courtesy © Studio Zhu-Pei

Tags: Beijing, China

Category: Museum

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