original design studio redefines the courtyard with fan zeng art gallery

original design studio redefines the courtyard with fan zeng art gallery
image © yao li, su shengliang
all images courtesy of original design studio

chinese practice original design studio recently completed the fan zeng art gallery in nantong, a structure used to exhibit, research, and collect the calligraphy, paintings, and poetry of mater fan zeng. the design takes base in the traditional concept of the chinese courtyard but re-interprets this notion through a contemporary context, re-establishing meaning and purpose of the vernacular in modern contexts.  the structure, a large square footprint with masonry foundation, translucent screens and a contemporary abstraction of the recognizable chinese roof line, contains three courtyard typologies that although are separate entities, give the visitor a cohesive and dynamic experience throughout the various halls.

exterior facade
image © yao li, su shengliang

the ‘well courtyard’ is located on the ground floor, receiving museum-goers in a partially enclosed space characterized by juxtaposing geometries and polygonal three-dimensional overlapping planes. continuing up the stairs leads to the ‘water’ and ‘stone’ courtyards that span the length of the building from north to south. these large covered elongated spaces bring visitors closer to the surrounding pond, enclosed within a massive wall of thin parallel louvers. the final major courtyard is the ‘encircled courtyard’, existing on top of the rest of the structure, more recognizable as the traditional open-air courtyard surrounded by structures around its perimeter.

image © yao li, su shengliang

image © yao li, su shengliang

well courtyard and entrance
image © yao li, su shengliang

geometric ceiling
image © yao li, su shengliang

image © yao li, su shengliang

stairs to the upper courtyards
image © yao li, su shengliang

louvered screens make up the exterior walls
image © yao li, su shengliang

image © yao li, su shengliang

encircled courtyard
image © yao li, su shengliang

image © yao li, su shengliang

lower stone facade with missing masonry parts
image © yao li, su shengliang

image © yao li, su shengliang

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project info:

project name: fan zeng art gallery
project location: nantong university, nantong, jiangsu province
investor: nantong university
design company: the architectural design and research institute of tongji university
design firm: original design studio
architects in charge: zhang ming, zhang zi, li xuefeng, sun jialong, zhang zhiguang, su ting
design time: 2010.11——2013.1
construction time: 2014.9
area: 7028㎡
photographs: yao li, su shengliang

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