translucent interlocked rings shape aedas’ jade-like yohoo museum in china

the museum’s edges are gently elevated, enclosing circular light wells that connect the interiors to the sky, and courtyards creating recreational spaces for the public.

ravail khan January 3, 2025 4 min

aedas’ yohoo museum gently rises above lake in hangzhou, china

With a sinuous double-ring structure, the Yohoo Museum sits like a glistening jade along the lake of the Liangzhu Yohoo Park in Hangzhou. The design by Aedas honors the significance of the green gem in Chinese culture, drawing from its role in ancient rituals and associated qualities of purity, connection, and reverence. This is spatially translated into a seemingly lightweight yet monumental architectural concept that balances an interplay of opacity and transparency.

A singular steel frame structure achieves this, clad with a subtle sequence of glass panels that showcase both crystal-like transparency and the warmth of jade. Within these curves, a series of open piazas along the protruding island create gathering spaces for the community, before they enter the exhibition spaces inside.

transparency and translucency clad the interlocked rings

An undulating roof lends the Yohoo Museum an evolving appearance when viewed from different angles for a dynamic new landmark for the city. Seen from above, the structure reveals two interlocked rings, representing continuity and unity, and symbolizing a bridge between the Liangzhu culture and the Grand Canal’s historic significance. The team at Aedas employed advanced a steel frame structure to create the illusion of a singular ribbon-like volume floating above the ground without any visible support.

The museum’s opposite edges are gently elevated, enclosing circular light wells that connect the interiors to the sky, symbolic of a connection between heaven and earth. Interconnected open spaces are framed within these contours, with courtyards creating welcoming recreational spaces for the public.

drawing from ancient chinese culture for the new landmark

In intricate expressions, the facade extends horizontally along the museum’s curves and enhances the motif of the jade. Translucent ‘emerald glass’ panels (multilayer laminated glass) on the south side balance opacity and transparency to allow soft, natural light into the museum, while a glass curtain wall with a white jade texture on the north provides panoramic views of the surrounding park and lake. Outside, Aedas wraps scenic trails around the Yohoo Museum and the island, allowing visitors to engage with the new landmark from various perspectives while enjoying views of the engulfing natural and urban landscapes.