Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts

Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
exterior. Image © Aurelien Chen

ART GALLERY EXTENSION OF NANJING UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS

Zhongsen Architectural & Engineering Designing

PROJECT YEAR
2019

PHOTOGRAPHS
Aurelien Chen

CATEGORY
Gallery

HEATING & VENTILATION
Lingye Song

ELECTRICAL
Kelan Cao

ARCHITECT
Zhongsen Architectural & Engineering Designing

CLIENT
Nanjing University of the Arts

STRUCTURE
Jian Jin, Yulong Qiu, Yong Liu, Feng Wang

LOCATION
Nanjing University of the Arts, Nanjing, China

LIGHTING CONSULTANTS
Ning Field Lighting Design Corp., Ltd.

WATER AND DRAINAGE SUPPLY
Yujin Huang

ONE HALL INTERPRETING TWO THEMES

This very project found its place among the crowded dormitory buildings of Nanjing University of the Arts.

What used to be the public rooms on the ground floor of the original No.46 dormitory is ready to be renovated and expanded into a two-story art exhibition hall. 

Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
birdview. Image © Aurelien Chen
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
© Aurelien Chen

The lower floor is assigned to " the Exhibition Hall of Ancient Ceramics Researches", and the upper floor " the Exhibition Hall of Ancient Oil Painting Restoration ".

The two halls representing for two themes, Chinese culture and western culture, are designed to be separated and to be managed independently.

Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
old painting recovery workshop lobby. Image © Aurelien Chen
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
exterior. Image © Aurelien Chen

Between traditions and arts, we identified the common characteristics of calmness and modesty. To correspond to this feeling, we designed a small building with fair-faced concrete named “The BETON Exhibition Hall”. 

The outer arc of the inner vault is used to pull the space from the bottom up to the skylight, creating a two-story shared space, offering an opportunity for dialogue between the two themes.

Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
steel stairs. Image © Aurelien Chen
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
© Aurelien Chen

A SPACE FORMING THE COMMUNITY

The area of the new dormitory buildings is called “Creative District”. The “BETON Exhibition Hall” stands with the NO.46 high-rise dormitory on its south and a small square between the buildings on its north North Hu Ju road outside the wall runs on its east side.

On its west side, there is a stone-paved pedestrian street stretching down from the north to the south of the campus, which is a popular spot packed with cafes, book stores, creative shops and art installations.

The university is a miniature of a society. Since the project is in the very art university, and in the very lively dormitories' area, maintaining and inspiring a good sense of community in the area took the priority in this designing.

The two-storey building already have a fairly good accessibility, with its first floor connecting to the street, and the second floor to an original bridge. Yet we would like to a step further.

Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
steel stairs. Image © Aurelien Chen
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
arch window wall. Image © Aurelien Chen

We squeezing out a small square of outdoor space from the limited building area and creating a vaulted veranda on the second floor, attracting people from different directions to move towards the cohesive square.

RENOVATION OVER CONSTRUCTION

Nanjing University of the Arts is a model for the transformation and upgrading of the old campus in Jiangsu Province. It has been adhering to the original site for more than 60 years. 

With the old and new buildings emerging from the vegetated slopes, a vibrate and dynamic campus stands out.

Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
lightwell gallery. Image © Aurelien Chen
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
old painting recovery workshop. Image © Aurelien Chen

Narrow as the space is, it is deeply loved by both teachers and students. The construction of "BETON exhibition hall" is also part of the campus’ long-time "urban acupuncture" regeneration.

Interior decoration took the main role in this regeneration, while only limited expansion of the building happened here.The junctions between the new and the old constructions are reinforced to meet the new technical specifications.

Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
lightwell. Image © Aurelien Chen
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
stairs. Image © Aurelien Chen
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
stairs. Image © Aurelien Chen

However, the essential of this project is neither to conquer the technical difficulties nor to increase the areas, but to inherit the campus atmosphere of art and life, and to attract more communications among the students by the uniqueness of the place.

SHAPING THE FORM

with a sculptural form, the building has two levels of vaults, which gives it a hint of Western art space.

However, this space has its original reference in the Wuliang Hall (meaning “Beamless Hall”) in the Linggu Temple in Nanjing.

The outer vault has a special texture with its fair-faced concrete, creating a metaphor for the brushstrokes of oil paintings and the fragments of ancient ceramics.

Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
arcade. Image © Aurelien Chen
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
bridge. Image © Aurelien Chen

What's more, it should bring a gentle sense of security to the persons below. This feeling will be further enhanced by the warm light of the night.

The corner of the building is set back from the street in order to avoid the Camphor tree in the yard, which makes the descending stairs twisting into a geometrical form.

Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
facade. Image © Aurelien Chen
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
night view. Image © Aurelien Chen

The newly added rusty-steel stairway is placed diagonally towards the cross-street bridge, revealing only a section from the exuberant street trees, identifying itself as a light reminder of the hall hidden behind.


Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
site plan
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
roof plan
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
1F plan
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
2F plan


Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
section
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
section


Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
east elevation
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
west elevation
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
north elevation
Art Gallery Extension Of Nanjing University Of The Arts
structure GIF