mix architecture sculpts this 'red box' exhibition center like a glowing cave

red box: shaped with textured red concrete

Discovered at the base of China‘s Red Mountain in Nanjing, this so-called Red Box exhibition center has been completed by Mix Architecture. The vibrant structure has been built as a landmark addition to the Hongchuang Park. Surrounded by a forest, the Red Box’s sculptural volume, constructed with red concrete using wooden templates, pays homage to the mountain’s history. The site, originally named ‘Great Spectacular Mountain,’ acquired its ‘Red Mountain’ moniker due to the discovery of hematite, mirroring the architectural choice of red concrete, enriched with iron oxide.

Red Box stands at the foot of Nanjing’s Red Mountain to mimic a natural boulder | image © Arch-Exist

mix architecture mimics a mountain cave

Situated on the south side of the park’s entrance plaza, Mix Architecture designs its Red Box to resemble a red stone resting at the foot of the lush Red Mountain. The entrance, suggesting a cut angle from a reclining stone, draws visitors into a unique sequence of interior. Dark, undulating, and twisting spaces lend the sensation of entering a dimly red cavern. A wooden door, adorned with wood and vertical corrugated textures, softens the cave’s ambiance. Illuminated by gentle light filtering through a circular hole, the door invites entry, revealing a world bathed in soft red hues upon opening.

suggesting a resting stone, the entrance leads to cavernous interiors | image © Haiting Sun

cavernous interiors with sunlit courtyards

Transitioning from exterior to interior, visitors step into a world within the red stone. Flowing spaces, red concrete interfaces, and terrazzo floor tiles create a cohesive interior reminiscent of a sculpted stone. The double-height entrance hall seamlessly connects to public spaces on the east and west, integrating with clear glass that blurs boundaries between interior and exterior. The western space, home to a preserved large tree, features a surrounding corridor encircling a mirror-like water element — this tree, ever-changing between yellow and green, stands against the backdrop of Red Mountain’s foliage. Ascending stairs, a bridge connects spaces on the second floor, opening up framed views of the park and Red Mountain beyond. As night falls, the Red Box emits warm light, seeping through semi-transparent acrylic and creating star-like patterns that blend with the night sky.

built with red concrete mirroring hematite, the work honors the natural context | image © Haiting Sun
flowing, softly lit spaces lead onto sunlit courtyards | image © Xiaobin Lv
a large tree is preserved in the western courtyard | image © Xiaobin Lv

the architecture honors the evolving narrative of the neighboring Red Mountain | image © Xiaobin Lv

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at night, the Red Box emits warm light, casting scattered star-like patterns | image © Arch-Exist

image © Arch-Exist

image © Arch-Exist

image © Haiting Sun

first floor plan

second floor plan

section, perspective

section, perspective

section, physical model

section, physical model

details

project info:

project title: Red Box Exhibition Center

architecture: Mix Architecture

location: Nanjin, China

design team: Suning Zhou, Ziye Wu, Ke Yang, Qian Shi, Tao Tang

structural consultant: Shanghai Wilderness Structural Des. Firm Inc.
landscape: Mix Architecture, Nanjing Hengzi Environmental engineering Co., Ltd
lighting consultant: LUMIA Lab

area: 700 square meters
completion: 2023
photography: © Arch-Exist, Haiting Sun, Xiaobin Lv