Jixi Museum

Jixi Museum
Southwestern panorama. Image © Zhi Xia

Jixi Museum

Atelier Li Xinggang

ARCHITECTS
Atelier Li Xinggang

PHOTOGRAPHS
Zhi Xia, Zhe Li, Xinggang Li

AREA
10003 m²

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Xuancheng Shi, China

CATEGORY
Museums & Exhibit

Text description provided by architect.

Jixi Museum is located in the north side of the old town area in Jixi County, Anhui Province. The site was the seat of the town hall throughout history and different regimes.

Jixi Museum
Courtyard and ancient garden. Image © Zhi Xia
Jixi Museum
"Rockery" detail. Image © Zhi Xia

Now because of the comprehensive preservation and restoration program for the entire old town, the site is reprogramed and a comprehensive museum on local culture and history that will have exhibition spaces, a 4D cinema, citizen services, shops, administration and storage functions will be located here.

The design is based on surveys on the landscape and origins of Jixi’s name, and investigations & studies on the Huizhou-style settlements.

Jixi Museum
Inner Street and Shuizhen. Image © Zhi Xia
Jixi Museum
Main courtyard bridge. Image © Zhi Xia

The entire building is covered under a continuous roof with undulating profile and texture that mimics the mountains and waters surrounding the county.

It is the logical result and expression of “Jixi’s shape”. Once the other buildings in the old town are restored back to the Hui style, the museum will fit in even more naturally with the entire town.

Jixi Museum
Stairs to the observation deck. Image © Zhi Xia
Jixi Museum
Xuyan hall interior. Image © Zhi Xia

In order to preserve as many of the existing trees on the site as possible, multiple courtyards, patios and lanes are introduced into the overall layout of the building, and at the same time as a reinterpretation of the spatial layout of the vernacular Huizhou architecture, and creating comfortable outdoor spaces.

Two streams run along the lanes, one on the east and the other on the west of the cluster of buildings, finally converging into the pool in the large courtyard at the main entrance.

In the south part of the building is “Ming Tang”, an interior courtyard common in the typical layout of Huizhou-style houses and follow the traditional Chinese Fengshui principles.

Jixi Museum
No.12 exhibition hall. Image © Zhi Xia
Jixi Museum
Partial of the courtyard. Image © Zhi Xia
Jixi Museum
Roof observation deck. Image © Zhi Xia

Directly opposite the main entrance is a group of abstract “rocks”. Surrounding “Ming Tang” is a “sightseeing route” that guides tourists to the “sightseeing platform” at the southeast corner of the building, where they can have a bird’s eye view of the roof-scape, courtyards and distant mountains.

Triangular steel structural trusses (their slopes are derived from the local building) adapt well to the undulating roof.

Local building materials such as bricks, clay roof tiles are used in modern and innovative ways to pay respect to history yet respond to our own times.

Jixi Museum
Aerial view. Image © Zhe Li
Jixi Museum
"Mountain yard" preserved trees. Image © Xinggang Li


Jixi Museum
Buildings, trees and mountains. Image © Xinggang Li
Jixi Museum
Pool detail. Image © Zhi Xia
Jixi Museum
Roof night view. Image © Zhi Xia
Jixi Museum
"Mountain yard" preserved trees. Image © Xinggang Li


Jixi Museum
Aerial view. Image © Zhe Li
Jixi Museum
South facade. Image © Zhi Xia
Jixi Museum
Corner of the main courtyard. Image © Xinggang Li


Jixi Museum
South Elevation
Jixi Museum
North Elevation
Jixi Museum
1-1 Section
Jixi Museum
2-2 Section

Jixi Museum
Masterplan
Jixi Museum
1F Plan