An amphitheatre of red travertine
Museum Entrance in Xi’an by Neri & Hu
The entrance to the subterranean Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts, © Studio Fang
For the subterranean Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts, Neri & Hu have created an entrance structure of red natural stone whose striking shape conceals a rather complex suite of spaces.
The rooftop terrace is shaped like an amphitheatre. © Zhu Runzi
The small museum in Xi’an is part of a larger hotel and shopping complex at the foot of the historical Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, which was erected nearly 1500 years ago by the Emperor Gaozong and is now a Unesco World Heritage site. The surrounding commercial district, on the other hand, is characterized primarily by its tedium.
In this setting the client, a hotel operator, wanted to increase the museum’s visibility. The structure lies two levels below the road and is accessed via escalators that Neri & Hu have covered with a sculptural shell. At the bottom of the escalators, a three-storey atrium opens heavenward with skylights. The architects have remodelled the storey above this as a shopping level with public toilets.
The museum entrance consists of red travertine. © Zhu Runzi
A little culture, a lot of commerce
While the two lower levels are located in a massive plinth structure of concrete the ground level, which is set somewhat lower than the road, opens to the outdoors with floor-to-ceiling glazing. This level serves as retail space as well. Rather like a large table, a dramatically jutting red roof in exposed concrete spreads over this level. In its turn, it forms the base for the striking cylinder of red travertine that acts as an advertising pillar for the cultural institution found beneath the earth.
Facade, © Studio Fang
Interior, © Zhu Runzi
The pellucid container is home to a bar lounge; above this, there is a rooftop terrace in the shape of an amphitheatre. A round skylight connects the two levels, which form a single unit in terms of function as well. According to the architects, the rooftop terrace can be used either as additional space for the bar or for private events and fashion shows.
Architecture: Neri & Hu
Client: Yungao Hotels Group Xi’an
Location: Cien Rd/Xintangren Street, Yanta District, Xi’An 710063 (CN)
Project execution planning: China Northwest Architectural Design and Research Institute
Lighting design: Linea Light
Contractor: Power China Chonqing Engineering
Gross floor area: 1990 m²
Gallery
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