The new Shanghai Museum of Glass is the first glass museum in China, located on a former glass manufacturing site in Baoshan District, Shanghai. The museum is adapted from two existing buildings, a former glass bottle factory and a warehouse. As an urban regeneration project, one of the museum’s main concepts was to preserve existing structures while rediscover the original character of each building.
Classified as a “type two” museum, its’ multi-functional design distinguishes it from normal museums. To ensure visits return-on-time is satisfied, the museum, in addition to its glass-themed exhibition does this through its’ hot glass shows, DIY workshops, lectures, libraries, and other interactive activities; all designed to attract and educate diverse target groups whilst creating value and incentive to visit. Uniquely treated U shaped glass panels form the museum’s facade where (selected) multi-language glass-related words glow via its LED backlight resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind visual effect.