neri&hu crafts qujiang museum as a luminous beacon in china

A ‘GLOWING LANTERN’ FOR XI’AN

Neri&Hu unveils its newly completed extension to the Quijang Museum of Fine Arts in Xi’an, China. The project marks a new threshold to the Datang Everbright City just south of the city’s renowned Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Following the client’s request, the architects introduce a new architectural symbol at the East Entry of the existing museum. Neri&Hu harnesses the concept of a glowing lantern to house commercial and museum programming while standing as an illuminated beacon for the neighborhood.

While the surrounding area is already populated by galleries, the design of the new building has been carefully considered to minimize its impact. The result of this is a circular form, which allows for a glimpse of the rooftop landscape from any space on the second floor and above.

image © Studio Fang

a new extension for quijang museum of fine arts

The architects at Neri&Hu organize the Quijang Museum of Fine Arts with four main components: the partially submerged Base, the Sculptural Walk circulation enclosure, the elevated podium Platform, and the Beacon. Partially sunken below the existing plaza, the cast-in-place concrete base is conceived as a continuation of the street. At the first floor entrance, Neri&Hu have left some of the original wide steps in place, which lead down to create a sunken piazza.

The former museum spaces and restaurant have been maintained within the solid concrete base, as well as new functions like retail and restrooms — additional functions which enhance the activities of the pedestrian street.

image © Zhu Runzi | @zhu_runzi

THE SCULPTURAL AMPHITHEATER BY NERI&HU

The sculptural form of Neri&Hu’s Quijang Museum of Fine Arts conceals a series of escalators that descend toward its lower levels. The design of this form features sections that alternate between compression and expansion, topped off with a three-story light well at the bottom of the sunken piazza, creating an atmosphere of ‘drama and intrigue.’

The Platform, an architectural expression of a post and lintel construction, hovers just above the sunken base. A grid of stone columns and glass curtain walls support the floating roof house, which features retail spaces. The retail level is highlighted by the curtain wall, separating the carved language of the base from the circular sculpted massing of the ‘lantern’ above.

image © Zhu Runzi

The Beacon, the newly built structure that caps the building, features a second floor lounge. Red travertine masonry units with diamond-shaped patterns are arranged in intervals to create an effect of light transmissivity. At the northwest end of the existing museum building, a passage connects directly to the second-floor outdoor terrace, which is designed as an amphitheater in the shape of a hollowed-out bowl. This terrace serves as an extension to the dining and entertainment activities of the lounge and is open to the public for various events and activities, as well as private performances and catwalks.

image © Zhu Runzi
image © Zhu Runzi