Located in the Cangma Mountains, an emerging residential district distant from downtown Qingdao, A Tour A Life Art Museum is part of a new town master planning program. With a GFA of 5500 sqm, it is designed as an important cultural place for the new town and assumes the role of public education and local identity builder for new residents.
Embedded in the sloping valley, the building complex is composed of two arcs slightly overlapped in the middle, in the shape of an “X”, which naturally divides the outdoor space into four semi-open courtyards with different functions, respectively main entrance square, sightseeing terrace, sculpture garden, and logistics entrance. The public flow line is organized through gentle ramps which improve the accessibility for mobility-impaired people. Also, it offers a satisfactory solution to elevation differences for both interior and outdoor spaces.
As a contemporary art museum, the main functional spaces include exhibition halls and public spaces. The exhibition halls of 6-9m high are insulated from direct sunlight, using luminous film ceilings to leave maximum space for artworks. Public spaces such as the café-library and the children’s recreation zone, on the contrary, manifest utmost transparency, and openness with the adoption of the large glass curtain walls. The parametric design helps to best position the orientation of the glazed façade in order to take full advantage of the mountain view.
In fact, the whole complex is realized with the help of parametric design, both facades, and the structure, ingeniously adjusting the relationship with the natural environment. Energy-efficient MEP systems and recyclable steel structures are applied for sustainability. Using the precast UHPC to construct a twisted form, supported by transparent curtain walls, the integrated design of architecture, interior, and landscape intends to create a unique spatial experience and an artistic journey, making the project itself a piece of artwork.