MAD architects: erdos museum, china

erdos museum metal louver image courtesy MAD architects

erdos museum by chinese MAD architects is located in the new city centre of erdos. driven by a booming economy, the municipal government of erdos are determined to create this new city, dozens of kilometers away from the current city, on a site that until recently was nothing but the gobi desert. the urban masterplan drew a symbolic but empty image of the ever rising sun on the grassland: a rigid and precise series of urban landscapes radiating from a central plaza, and symbolizing the sun. this ordered plan fulfilled the wishes of the government, but shows no real consideration for the people who live in the city.

the museum has been conceived as a reaction to this city plan. it takes the form of a natural, irregular nucleus to contrast with the strict geometry of the masterplan. the structure is wrapped in polished metal louvers, to reflect and dissolve the planned surroundings. this shell will enclose a new interior, totally separate from the urban reality.

the interior is divided into several exhibition halls, defined by continuous curvilinear walls, all opening onto the shared public space that runs through the museum. the glazed roof will draw light into this environment, which is then channeled through the building by the luminescent walls, whilst the louvers will allow natural ventilation.

architects have been constructing theerdos museum since march, 2008. after 15 months of intense work, the lattice shell and the metal louver are almost complete. at the moment, the walls in the interior space and the landscape are under construction. according to the current rate of progress, the museum will be completed in june of 2010.

the latticed shell image courtesy MAD architects

interior of erdos museum– the GRG walls in the interior space and the landscape are under constructionimage courtesy MAD architects

roof of the museum image courtesy MAD architects

models of museum image courtesy MAD architects

redering of the erdos museum image courtesy MAD architects

erdos museum interior image courtesy MAD architects

structure of erdos museum image courtesy MAD architects

site area: 27,760 sqm building area: 41, 227 sqm building height: 40 m