pine trees and pure geometric forms articulate 'song art museum' in beijing

vermilion zhou design group has transformed a traditional victorian-style building into ‘song art museum’ in beijing, china. deeming the original architecture as outdated, the owner sought to turn the structure and surrounding gardens into a new cultural space for the public to enjoy.

image © jonathan leijonhufvud

vermilion zhou design group began the renovation by removing all the decorative elements of the original building to create pure, stylized white volumes, which still follow the lines of the old structure. the final museum is formed by two large white masses connected by a glass corridor.

image © jonathan leijonhufvud

around the white volumes, the design team planted 199 pine trees within the perfectly-manicured gardens. combined with the all-white architecture, the trees help create a tranquil atmosphere, which visitors can enjoy from the massive glazed gable or end façade.

image © zhi xia

the art gallery is planned over three levels: basement, first floor, and second floor. within these spaces, visitors are guided through bright and minimal exhibition areas that are filled with light thanks to soaring voids and skylights.

image © jonathan leijonhufvud

vermilion zhou design group says, ‘the significance of the museum’s existence is the presentation of art. as an exhibition platform, our definition of the song art museum is an ‘art container’, with ‘art’ as the mainstay and ‘container’ as the supplement, and it serves as a form that can be replicated in the future. our transformation of architecture and freedom of space offer the greatest possibilities.’

image © jonathan leijonhufvud

‘song art museum transforms everything into geometry and purity and takes ‘non-action’ from the outside to within. what we offer is a kind of ‘clean’ existence. when ‘contemporary art’ enters various forms, they can display their vocabulary and vitality without scruples. the courtyard is surrounded by pine trees, providing the external vitality of song art museum. the scenery becomes the breath of both the inside and outside, and the oriental freehand brushwork also becomes the natural rhythm of mutual reflection between traditional and modern architecture,’ continues vermilion zhou design group.