The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University (UAD) has created a giant void at the center of a museum and library complex in Jiashan, Zhejiang, China.

Named Jiashan Museum & Library, the 47,800-square-metre building has been designed as a cultural complex that can act as a large outdoor public activity venue for local citizens. 

West façade

"Jiashan is an eco-friendly and green development demonstration area in the Yangtze River Delta, a Top 100 Chinese county, as well as the only county-level scientific development demonstration area in China," said UAD.

Located on a limited plot area, the project lacks space to accommodate a large-capacity outdoor public activity venue. 

The site is adjacent to an open urban landscape space, which is under planning but the construction has been postponed. Therefore, the architects had to explore and conceive architectural spaces within the plot.

South facade along the street

Considering the site conditions, the architects designed an open void at the middle as the core, and combined three architectural volumes around it to enclose a square for the crowd, this void is also an outdoor extension of the foyers of the library and museum. 

The square provides resting space for citizens, while also connecting the museum and library. Moreover, it serves diversified public activities such as outdoor exhibition, pop-up book market, etc., fully embodying the functions and image of an urban "knowledge hall and cultural living room". 

East entrance

The three building volumes are arranged at appropriate positions according to their respective functions. The museum is set at the southeast corner and near an intersection. It has a closed facade, which shows a clean, neat and iconic image. 

The library is situated on the north side and faces the river. It boasts ample daylighting on north and sides, and the museum isolates it from the noisy urban road. 

Inner square

The building volume at southwest corner and close to the open urban landscape area accommodates shared ancillary facilities for the museum and library, including lecture hall, casual dining area.

The architects take inspiration from local cultural context. "Jiashan is located in the north of Zhejiang Province, and adjoins Shanghai and Jiangsu. It features a dense water network and developed shipping industry," added the firm. 

"In Ming and Qing dynasties, Jiashan was known as the "Country of a Thousand Kilns", because the kiln industry in the county back then was prosperous and most of its bricks were produced for imperial palaces." 

View of museum facade from street corner

The form of the square is inspired by local brick kilns. As the studio highlights, it's an abstract yet modern "brick kiln" space, which reflects a meaningful attempt to extend building boundaries. Meanwhile, it blurs the boundary between interior and outside, openness and privacy.    

The architecture has a smooth and simple appearance, which is complemented by large areas of flat and light-hued stone curtain walls and characterized by texture contrast. Inner facades draw on the stacked structures of brick kilns, and form brick-red curved surfaces. 

Interior atrium of museum

The strong contrast of external and inner facades implies the idea that the unexpected and spectacular is hidden in a plain shell. 

The whole architecture is like a natural jade that reveals brilliance after being cut open. It's also like a city that collects culture and treasure, which echoes the design theme "Book Repository and Treasure Kiln". 

Side hall of museum

River-facing north facade

Resting area of library

Library atrium

Library reading room

View of inner square from south entrance

Details of stone curtain wall

Details of glass curtain wall at inner square

Master plan

1st floor plan

2nd floor plan

3rd floor plan

4th floor plan

5th floor plan

Section

Elevations

Project facts

Project name: Jiashan Museum & Library

Location: Jiashan, Zhejiang, China

Design firm: The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd. (UAD) 

Area: 47,800 square meters

Architectural design: Yang Yidong, Xu Ruofeng, Lin Zaiguo, Zhang Heng, Zhang Pengfei

Structural design: Zhang Mingshan, Xia Liang, Xu Quanbiao 

MEP design: Gong Zengrong, Dong Shaobing, Yang Yi, Yang Guozhong, Huang Zhengjie, Liu Haifeng, Yu Lilun, Wang Lei

Curtain wall design: Hang Fei, Yu Hao

Interior design: Yang Yidong, Xu Ruofeng, Lin Zaiguo, Luo Jingwei, Zhang Pengfei

Landscape design: Xia Jiming

Lighting design: Yang Xin

All images © Zhao Qiang

All drawings © UAD

> via UAD