LOPO China’s glazed terracotta cladding adorns hunan art museum

lining the façade of the museum, LOPO China's terracotta cladding transitions across a spectrum of red tones as light changes.

tim spears November 19, 2019 3 min

located on the west bank of the xiangjiang river, a new landmark opened in the city of changsha, china at the end of september 2019. the hunan art museum is the largest public art center in the hunan province, combining awe-inspiring architecture with diverse cultural exhibitions. built by the huajian group, the multi-dimensional complex reflects the unique culture and bold vitality of its home, from its folded form through to its stimulating work within. its special character is instantly recognizable by its intricate yet rich terracotta-cladded façade from LOPO China, which intrigues with highly textured and transitional colors.

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all images © lopochina.com

hunan art museum’s unique form was conceptualized by huajian group as continuous horizontal fold lines that merge and morph into an enclosed building complex. a white block rises out from atop of the immensely red structure. it adorns white terracotta panels by LOPO China, where each tile was accurately cut, varied in shapes and sizes, before being directly drilled and fixed to the façade. from afar, its design mirrors that of a vertically folded, traditional chinese calligraphy paper. however, at a closer look, it features a texture like that of cracked chinese glazed ceramics. at night, bright lights shine through the gaps to make the block appear as if a lantern – or cultural beacon – within hunan.

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beneath, the main body of the building adorns a façade of three custom-made glazed terracotta cladding by LOPO China. all varied in shapes and sizes, the trio of terracotta products adds a complex, seemingly irregular and highly textured character to the solid structure of the museum. trapezoidal panels horizontally line the façade with a transverse texture; triangular plates are fitted vertically to embellish the form; and a number of slightly smaller trapezoidal terracotta baguettes are subtly fixed in front of the glass curtain wall on the first floor of the building.

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although seemingly bold in color, LOPO’s vermilion-colored architectural terracotta products offer a sophisticated subtlety. working with light and shadow, the façade’s panels transition across a spectrum of red tones as light changes. the stunning effect causes the building to transform throughout the day, often unique in behavior on a day-to-day basis. its rough, powerful texture intertwines with the softness of the white facade that sits atop the building. the terracotta cladding composes a perfect balance to the hunan art museum’s multi-dimensionality.

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