iwan baan photographs ordos museum by MAD architects

dutch photographer iwan baan has documented the completed ‘ordos museum’ in ordos, china. designed by beijing-based practice MAD architects, the building appears to have landed from another world into the recently created urban center within the once gobi desert. the masterplan is mindful of the existing cultural traditions of the area while addressing the progress and future of the city, allowing the community to congregate and lounge within the surrounding plazas. surfaced with metal panels, the undulating exterior protects the interior from the region’s harsh winters and sand storms.

approach to the main entrance
image © iwan baan (also main image)

upon entering the MAD-designed museum, an atrium with the characteristics of a cave and canyon become apparent, introducing swaths of daylight from above along with shadowed passages leading towards galleries. a series of bridges traverse the chasm from one void to another, guided by the changes in illumination. residents of the area may circulate through the interior to efficiently cross from one side of the site to the other without entering exhibitions. meanwhile, employees of the center are provided a natural work environment with office and research spaces that flank a south-facing internal garden. see the full set of images photographed by iwan baan here.

observation area
image © iwan baan

observation area
image © iwan baan

louvered facade
image © iwan baan

main entrance
image © iwan baan

(left) main entrance
(right) entrance
images © iwan baan

(left) lobby
(right) atrium
images © iwan baan

(left) atrium
(right) stairs crossing through atrium
images © iwan baan

(left) view through atrium from upper gallery
(right) window overlooking surrounding grounds
images © iwan baan

gallery
image © iwan baan

video © MAD architects

ma yansong, co-founder of MAD architects
portrait © designboom

project info:

location: ordos, china
typology: museum
site area: 27,760 sqm
building area: 41, 227 sqm
building height: 40 m

directors: ma yansong, yosuke hayano, dang qun
design team: shang li, andrew c. bryant, howard jiho kim, matthias helmreich, linda stannieder, zheng tao, qin lichao, sun jieming, yin zhao, du zhijian, yuan zhongwei, yuan ta, xie xinyu, liu weiwei, felipe escudero, sophia tang, diego perez, art terry, jtravis b russett, dustin harris
associate engineers: china institute of building standard design & research
mechanical engineer: the institute of shanxi architectural design and research
façade/cladding consultants: SUP ingenieure gmbh, melendez & dickinson architects
construction contractor: huhehaote construction co., ltd
façade contractor: zhuhai king glass engineering co.ltd

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