Project Overview

Shuanglin Temple, with a long historical standing, is an important part of the ancient city of Pingyao, a world cultural heritage. This case, located in the southwest of Shuanglin Temple, is designed to integrate the regional characteristics, while giving considerations to such factors as archaeology, anthropology and religion. The concept of design is rooted in the idea of "empty" in Buddhism. The architectural space and the viewing motion line extend around the "empty courtyard" in the center. After entering the museum, visitors can view the exhibition by following the standard motion line, or roaming through it for exploration.

Organisation

Beijing Zhongse North Architectural Design Institute Co., Ltd.

Project Brief

The three-tier spatial structure is connected by stairs that intersperse back and forth between the interior and exterior. The seemingly unstructured staircase arrangement fills the space with a sense of sequence, giving a variety of options to the tour line. The "empty courtyard" extensively absorbs natural light, symbolizing the guidance of light to man in Buddhism, so that people have "spatial anchors" in any position of the building. Light enters different spaces in a creative way and, along with diverse exhibits, provides people with new forms of viewing the exhibition and experiencing the space.

Having come to the end of the exhibition motion line, visitors may take the concrete stairs around the “empty courtyard” to the roof, which curls up slightly at the four corners of different heights to purify the vision and enable visitors to see the roofs of the ancient architecture of Shuanglin Temple and the surrounding residential buildings. Concrete benches are set up along the grains encircling the “empty courtyard”, allowing visitors to take a rest and while adding a sense of depth to the roof. It also gives visitors an experience of tour beyond traditional museums.

Project Innovation/Need

This case will not only exhibit contemporary works of sculpture, but also reflect the connection and difference between the new building and the ancient construction of Shuanglin Temple. In the course of providing an innovative space experience, it integrates the local history and culture. The design adopts plain local materials, including rammed earth, concrete, wood, tiles, and rough grains of the materials, to maximize the local and historical features of the design, and effectively control the construction cost. This modern New China Classic Sculpture Museum, interpreted with ancient craftsman design techniques, has become a "contemporary building emerging out of history".

Design Challenge

The New China Classic Sculpture Museum will not only take on the function of exhibiting contemporary sculptures, but will also reflect the connection and difference between the new building and the ancient building of Shuanglin Temple. The new museum will offer people an innovative spatial experience, but more importantly, a connection to history and the local area, becoming a "contemporary building that emerges from history".

Sustainability

The design uses simple, local materials to maximize the local nature of the design and to effectively control construction costs.