Qintai Art Museum | Atelier Deshaus

Qintai Art Museum is located on the lakeside of the Moon Lake in Wuhan’s Hanyang district, facing the Meizi Hill across the lake to the south. In order to reduce the weight of the architectural mass on the natural surface of the lake, the form of an undulating natural terrain is used in the direction of the lake, while sinking part of the exhibition spaces underground. This both uses the underground space, and also minimizes the massing on the ground. On the side facing the city road, on the other hand, a vertical facade continues to uphold architecture’s urbanity.

The undulating roof is formed by an abstract stepped terrace following topographic contours. The risers of the steps are lined using silver metallic surface, while the treads are covered with white stones and low vegetation, traversed by winding planked walking paths. These rooftop paths are entirely open to the public, connecting to the Moon Lake, as well as the exits of the museum exhibition spaces, the space for public education, the art shop, the café, and the other public spaces. Thus, they form a public space framework independent from the exhibition spaces of the museum. The activities of the public are part of the architectural surface.

The art museum architecture as intervention has redefined the urban space on the south bank of Moon Lake. To the west of the museum the space is reserved for an urban plaza, interacting in the future with the Wuhan Library and Drama Centre under planning. The main entrance to the museum, as well as the programs with strong public tenets including the Creative Cultural Spaces, are all placed on this side, where a subtly inwardly-curved façade together with the place create a sense of enclosure. From the plaza there are ramped paths linking to the second floor café and rooftop terrace, establishing a public circulation that could still operate after the museum closes. Operationally, this strengthens the openness of the museum and the urbanity of the architecture.

The main hall, together with the undulating roofscape, creates a unique space for exhibition. The space of the exhibition uses floating exhibition walls, and there is no longer a set circulation for visiting the exhibition. The walls are both surfaces for exhibiting, as well as the structure for the undulating roof. The exhibition spaces for contemporary art, modern art, classical art, as well as for special exhibitions, could be independently accessed, or sequentially linked, having great functional flexibility.

Project Information

Project Name: Qintai Art Museum
Location: Zhiyin Avenue, Hanyang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province
Architectural/Interior Design: Atelier Deshaus
(Schematic design, Design development, Interior design)
Design Team: Liu Yichun, Chen Yu, Wang Longhai, Hu Chenchen, Chen Hao, Shen Wen, Chen Chihhan, Tang Yun, Zhang Xiaoqi, Wu Wenchao, Deng Rui, Liu Xin, Pang Zirui, Wang Jiawen, Cao Ye
Collaboration: CITIC General Institute of Architectural Design and Research Co., Ltd.
(Construction drawing, Structure, M&E)
Landscape: Wuhan Institute of Landscape Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
Structural Consultant (during schematic design): AND Office
Facade: Shanghai CIMA Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd.
Floodlighting: Huajian new era (Wuhan) Engineering Design Co., Ltd.
Interior and Exhibition Lighting: Shanghai Zen Lighting Co., Ltd.
Signage: Nanjing Hanqingtang Design Co., Ltd.
Client: Wuhan City Construction Group Co., Ltd.
General Contractor: China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co.,Ltd.
Interior Contractor: Shenzhenwenye Decoration&Design Engineering Co.,Ltd.
Floor Area: 43080m2
Site Area: 33600m2
Design Period: 2016.05-2018.09
Completion: 2021.12