logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass

‘shanghai museum of glass’ by logon, shanghai, china image courtesy of logon

shanghai’s new museum of glass, designed by logon in collaboration with coordination asia is now open. the facility, located on a former glass manufacturing site in the city’s remote and industrial baoshan district, is part of a larger strategic development that is scheduled for competition in 2018. broken into four phases – a museum, sculpture yard, science park and business park – the complex looks to become a beacon, gentrifying the neighborhood and supporting shanghai’s campaign to position itself as a globally recognized center for creativity and culture.

exterior image courtesy of logon

situated at the forefront of the 29,612 square meter site, the museum – the only completed structure to date – encompasses an arrangement of activities and programs that intend to engage and educate visitors on a deeper and more intimate level. a series of exhibition areas, glass blowing studios, workshops, lecture and library spaces are dispersed over two floors, targeting a diverse range of age groups and demographics. embracing the new and the old, the minimal and contemporary design contrasts the surrounding environment, its form and materiality dominant against the industrial backdrop. 

plaza image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

entrance and plaza (left) image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de (right) image courtesy of logon

a solid black mass heads a bleak existing structure, marking the point of entrance for both the new museum and the compound as whole. the defining dark facade is made from glass imported from germany, sand blasted and enameled to reveal transparent glass-related words in various languages. LED backlights illuminate the structure from within, highlighting each term and adding a sense of depth and interest to the flat, rectilinear volume. 

entrance image courtesy of logon

the interior, imagined by coordination asia, is dark and reflective, with spaces that are awash with lacquered glass. each area, altered by illumination and mirrored surfaces, appears complex and multi-dimensional, with a shifted perception of depth and spatiality. a series of screens and inner volumes break up the vast internal area, independently emphasizing the influence of each period, continent and industry.

entrance image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

lobby image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

entrance to exhibition space image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

threshold image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

double height exhibition space image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

exhibition area image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

exhibition area image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

exhibition area image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

stairway to second storey displays images courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

upper level display images courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

displays images courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

special display image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

display image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

some areas of the existing structure were left untouched image courtesy of logon

entrance from back plaza image courtesy of logon

(left) secondary entrance from back plaza (right) back plaza images courtesy of logon

back plaza images courtesy of logon

floor plan / level 0 image courtesy of coordination asia

floor plan / level 1 image courtesy of coordination asia

exploded axo image courtesy of coordination asia