studio zhu pei completes minsheng contemporary art museum in china

in china, the country’s largest public contemporary art space has opened inside a renovated electronics factory dating from the 1980s. designed by studio zhu pei, beijing’s minsheng contemporary art museum exists in contrast to standardized ‘white cube’ galleries, configured as a diverse series of exhibition spaces. in reusing an existing building, the design team sought to incorporate the rough industrial characteristics of the former factory with exposed textures and surfaces.

the art space is contained within a renovated electronics factory
image © minsheng art museum

internally, gallery typologies include spaces of different sizes and dimensions, classified as: big box, middle box, small box, classic space, courtyard exhibition space, and black box (multi-function performance, convention, exhibition spaces). studio zhu pei has organized each area as an organic extension of the welcoming double-height reception foyer, which includes staircase seating.

the welcoming double-height reception foyer
image © fang zhenning

image © fang zhenning

staircase seating is used across both levels

the gallery’s upper level
image © fang zhenning

image © fang zhenning

natural daylight floods the plan’s circulation space
image © fang zhenning

gallery typologies include various spaces of different sizes and dimensions

the design team sought to incorporate the industrial characteristics of the former factory

the building’s reflective cladding
image © fang zhenning

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project info:

architect: studio zhu pei
design principal: zhu pei
consultant: thomas krens/GCAM
project team: he fan, edwin lam, wang zheng, damboianu albert alexandru, virginia  melnyk, guo nan, ke jun, wang peng, li gao
location: beijing, china
completed: 2015

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