studio pei zhu: xixi wetland art museum

xixi wetland art museum- rendering
courtesy studio pei-zhu

chinese studio pei-zhu has designed the xixi wetland art museum located in a rural nature
preserved near hangzhou, china. the concept stems from the interaction between building
and nature. as leaves fall from trees they arrive naturally on the ground. the resulting form
creates shelter against the earth. this design creates the genuine qualities of scattered, fallen leaves
and shelter through five buildings. some leaves overlap and attach with other leaves.
one leaf remains separate, yet still unites in visual language with the linked leaves.
the four linked structures house functions for business, recreation, a hotel, restaurant, and reception.
the single standing leaf is the art museum.

the buildings are covered by light colored, reflective zinc panels that have a brushed finish,
resulting in a diffused and soft reflection of their interactions with people and nature.
this blending influences a person as they experience the museum. all colors, light, and details merge
into a continuous representation that is not recognizable as individual objects, but are distinguished
as a uniform and natural image.

xixi wetland art museum- rendering
courtesy studio pei-zhu

xixi wetland art museum- rendering
courtesy studio pei-zhu

xixi wetland art museum- rendering
courtesy studio pei-zhu

xixi wetland art museum- rendering
courtesy studio pei-zhu

xixi wetland art museum- rendering
courtesy studio pei-zhu

xixi wetland art museum- rendering
courtesy studio pei-zhu

xixi wetland art museum- rendering
courtesy studio pei-zhu

wetland art museum site plan
courtesy studio pei-zhu

team: zeng xiaoming, he fan, ke jun, li si, ye xiaoqin, jiao chongxia, jing suchun and zhang jingwen
design: 2008-2009
construction: 2009
total building area: 5,793sqm