located in ningbo, china, the ‘MOAE – huamao museum of art education’ by álvaro siza and carlos castanheira features an undulating, metal-clad exterior that hovers above the ground. perched on a hillside, the museum appears small and intriguing on the outside. on the contrary, its interior appears immense thanks to the calmness of the bright, all-white exhibition spaces that develop around an enormous void.

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'
all images courtesy of carlos castanheira architects

 

 

álvaro siza and carlos castanheira developed the ‘MOAE– huamao museum of art education’ as a small, black metal construction suspended above ground. its undulating form provides a predetermined exterior route which visitors have to follow to reach the public entrance of the museum. clad in metal, the façade reflects the ever-changing daylight that makes the form move and transform constantly.

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

 

 

though the museum appears small on the outside, its interior is characterized by immense, bright spaces that develop around a central void that reaches the full height of the building. a snaking ramp links all the floor levels, creating a continuous stream of dynamic movement as visitors circulate inside. tube lights of different sizes are arranged vertically and horizontally, tracing the dimensions of the building in both directions.

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

álvaro siza + carlos castanheira plan 'MoAE – huamao museum of art education'

 

 

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alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 
alvaro siza carlos castanheira MOAE huamao museum ningbo china designboom
 

 

project info:

 

 

name: MOAE – huamao museum of art education
location: dongqian lake, ningbo, china
architects: álvaro siza with carlos castanheira
office in portugal: CC&CB, architects, lda.
project architect: 1st phase (schematic design): luis reis, elisabete queirós, pedro carvalho
2nd phase (design development/construction): pedro carvalho
project team: jorge santos, joana soeiro, sara pinto, susana oliveira, francesca tiri, rita ferreira, diana vasconcelos, inês bastos, luísa felizardo
3D models and renderings: germano vieira, sara noronha

 

portuguese consultants —
light design: alexandre martins – GPIC
acoustical engineering: filipe andrade santos

 

local partners —
consultants: zhejiang huazhi architecture design ltd
local management & supervision: chunyi liu, architect
office in ningbo: design institute of landscape & architecture – china academy of art
engineering: hangzhou MJP mechanical & electrical design consultant ltd
construction company: zhejiang wanhua construction ltd
model: escala reduzida
photography: HouPictures