gmp architekten: national museum of china

‘national museum of china’ by gmp architekten, beijing, china image courtesy of christian gahl

german studio, gmp architekten, has completed ‘national museum of china’, a design that won them first place in an international competition. located in beijing, china, the structure aims to integrate elements of the existing museum into the new building without abolishing the immediately obvious distinction between new and old, contemporary and traditional.

situated within tian’anmen square not far from the forbidden city, the museum features a series of intersecting volumes with dimensions and forms that respond to the sheer size and significance of the surrounding environment.

west entrance image courtesy of christian gahl

the west entrance which is accessed via a courtyard and broad steps is lined with slender pillars that support a projecting roof reminiscent of elements found in the vernacular architecture.

inside, a 260 meter long access hall merges interior and exterior environments, widening in the center to embrace the central entrance and the prominent facing square. the forum, a vast central core branches off of the main hallway, connecting the north and south wings. governed by the classic tripartite division of china’s historical buildings, the multifunctional vestibule and event space reflects a contemporary interpretation and application of traditional chinese architecture. the harmonious use of wood, stone and glass create a natural feeling of identity and familiarity throughout the facility, while rooms of special significance are treated in differentiated and strongly contrasting materials.

forum image courtesy of christian gahl

the north wing facing chang’an avenue contains exhibition spaces that relate to the modern history of china, while the south wing houses the administration and library. in the new building, the main exhibition areas are distributed over four superimposed stories north and south of the central hall, where state receptions, banquets and similar events are held.

main stairway image courtesy of christian gahl

upper level VIP area image courtesy of christian gahl

(left) atrium (right) exterior detail images courtesy of christian gahl

the colonnades and window styles – typical of the existing building – were translated into contemporary design vocabulary image courtesy of christian gahl