‘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.

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 2 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. 

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 3 plaza image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 4 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. 

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 5 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.

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 6 entrance image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 7 lobby image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 8 entrance to exhibition space image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 9 threshold image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 10 double height exhibition space image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 11 exhibition area image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 12 exhibition area image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 13 exhibition area image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 14 stairway to second storey displays images courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 15 upper level display images courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 16 displays images courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 17 special display image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 18 display image courtesy of coordination asia / © diephotodesigner.de

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 19 some areas of the existing structure were left untouched image courtesy of logon

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 20 entrance from back plaza image courtesy of logon

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 21 (left) secondary entrance from back plaza (right) back plaza images courtesy of logon

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 22 back plaza images courtesy of logon

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 23 floor plan / level 0 image courtesy of coordination asia

 

 

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 24 floor plan / level 1 image courtesy of coordination asia

 

 

logon architects + coordination asia: shanghai museum of glass - 25 exploded axo image courtesy of coordination asia