Australian architecture studio COX Architecture has completed China's first National Maritime Museum in Tianjin, China. 

The 80,000-square-metre museum, located on the port harbour, outside the city of Tianjin, was built as a winning project through an international design competition in 2011.

Named The National Maritime Museum of China, the museum is made of five elongated giant halls radiating out to the port harbour and converging in a central preface hall. 

The maritime museum aims to become a catalyst in enhancing the Chinese public’s awareness of sea protection, marine research and marine culture.  

Conceived as a gigantic intervention, the museum houses both new and historic maritime items with a focus on celebrating the achievements of Chinese naval exploration throughout the ages. 

The architecture of the building is inspired by "aquatic references"  addressing to "anemone", "corals" and "vessels" in port. 

"These references are not obvious or ‘tacky’ but instead act as subtle enticements for exploration of experiences within," said COX Architecture. 

Each hall is dedicated to a different aspect of China’s marine heritage. These aspects include nature and ocean, world maritime civilisation, Chinese marine culture and historic vessels. There is a temporary exhibition hall and spaces for public education, business, research and curatorial facilities.

The museum is welcomed by a large "maritime plaza" where maritime re-enactments and other open-air events actively engage the museum with the city. 

This maritime plaza houses a fishing and craft village and a marine botanic garden. It is marked by an observation tower that acts as the museum’s energy plant.

This segmenting of halls and the maritime plaza ensures the museum doesn’t look like one monolithic building.

Visitors are welcomed via a ramp to an elevated level from which they can access one of two split levels. This allows the collections and operational centre of the museum to be located immediately under the preface hall with direct lower-level access into each hall.

Another formative aspect of the design was the Chinese Government’s desire to build the museum within two years. The firm used parametric modelling techniques to employ design with the assistance of Arup. 

Walls and the roof were comprised of prefabricated, diagonally braced ribs and cladding, forming shells that can be installed prior to erecting the upper floors.   

Site plan

Sections

Elevations

The museum held its soft opening in May 2019. This project was completed in association with Tianjin Architecture and Design Institute.

Project facts

Project name: National Maritime Museum of China 

Architects: COX Architecture 

City: Tianjin, China

Year: 2018

Client: Chinese Government and Tianjin Municipality

Status: Complete, 2019

Key Consultants: Tianjin Architecture and Design Institute, Arup, Lord Cultural Resources, Urbantect

Gross Floor Area: 80,000m2

All images © Terrence Zhang

All drawings © COX Architecture

> via COX Architecture