Kengo Kuma & Associates

Xinjin Zhi Museum

Xinjin Zhi Museum
© Courtesy of kengo kuma & associates

XINJIN ZHI MUSEUM

 Kengo Kuma & Associates

ARCHITECTS
Kengo Kuma & Associates

LOCATION
Chengdu, china

CATEGORY
Museum

AREA
787.0 m²

PROJECT YEAR
2011

Text description provided by architect.

This pavilion is located at the foot of Laojunshan mountain in Xinjin, to usher in the people to the holy place of Taoism, while the building itself shows the essence of Taoism through its space and exhibitions.

Xinjin Zhi Museum
© Courtesy of kengo kuma & associates
Xinjin Zhi Museum
© Courtesy of kengo kuma & associates

The tile used for façade is made of local material and worked on in a traditional method of this region, to pay tribute to Taoism that emphasizes on nature and balance.

Tile is hung and floated in the air by wire to be released from its weight (and gain lightness).

Clad in breathing façade of particles, the architecture is merged into its surrounding nature.

Xinjin Zhi Museum
© Courtesy of kengo kuma & associates
Xinjin Zhi Museum
© Courtesy of kengo kuma & associates

The façade for the south is divided into top and bottom and staggered in different angles.

This idea is to respond to two different levels of the pond in front and the street at the back, and avoid direct confrontation with the massive building in the south.

For the east side, a large single tile screen is vertically twisted to correspond with the dynamism of the road in front. The façade for the north side is static and flat, which faces the pedestrians’ square. Thus the tile screen transforms itself from face to face, and wraps up the building like a single cloth.

Xinjin Zhi Museum
© Courtesy of kengo kuma & associates
Xinjin Zhi Museum
© Courtesy of kengo kuma & associates

Taking advantage of the varied levels in the architecture’s surroundings, the flow is planned to lead people from the front to the back, motion to stillness, like a stroll type of garden.

The exhibition space inside is planned spiral moving from darkness to light. From the upper floor a paramount view of Laoujunshan can be enjoyed. Direct sunlight is blocked by the tile, and the interior of the building is covered with gentle light with beautiful particle-like shade.

Xinjin Zhi Museum
© Courtesy of kengo kuma & associates


Xinjin Zhi Museum
site plan

Xinjin Zhi Museum
master plan
Xinjin Zhi Museum
plan
Xinjin Zhi Museum
plan


Xinjin Zhi Museum
elevation
Xinjin Zhi Museum
elevation


Xinjin Zhi Museum
exploded axonometry
Xinjin Zhi Museum
axonometry


Xinjin Zhi Museum
section
Xinjin Zhi Museum
section
Xinjin Zhi Museum
section


Xinjin Zhi Museum
detail
Xinjin Zhi Museum
detail
Xinjin Zhi Museum
detail

Kengo Kuma & Associates
T +81 3 3401 7721 F +81 3 3401 7778
Kengo Kuma & Associates
2 Chome-24-8 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan