Designed as an island connected to an island, the new Pingtan Art Museum in Pingtan, China will soon be the largest private museum in Asia—and the third museum design by Chinese firm MAD Architects. Judging by the stunning renderings, however, there’s no question this project will be one-of-a-kind upon its completion (an official date has yet to be released).
According to the MAD team, “The museum itself acts as a smaller scale island off the Pingtan Island, connected to land only by a slightly undulating pier, which, in turn, bridges artificial and natural, city and culture, as well as history and future. It wishes to communicate a sense of purity and an idea of Zen.”
Renderings of the museum portray a uniquely shaped, multi-domed structure, with “hills” made of concrete blended with local sand shells. The building’s soft, sloping lines and cavernous, curving walls create a cave-like interior that houses exhibit halls and public spaces.
“The concept of the project is a museum as a naturally floating island in the sea, a creature,” said the MAD Architects design team. “The museum represents a long-lasting earthscape in water and is a symbol of the island in ancient times, with each island containing a mountain beneath it.”
As the largest island in the Fujian province, Pingtan is also the Chinese island nearest to Taiwan. The Comprehensive Experimental Zone project, launched in 2010, indicates that Pingtan will become a focal point for trade and cultural communication between Taiwan and the mainland. Currently, Pingtan is home to fisheries and a military base, but large-scale urban development will soon be underway. The Pingtan Art Museum will be a central point for the new Pingtan city in the growing area, and will make its debut with an exhibit featuring over 1,000 pieces of national treasures in its 430,000-square-foot space.
L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Center
Lower Flying Point, ME | By SMMA
The Outdoor Discovery Center project started with a challenge from L.L.Bean, who wanted a kayaking center that emphasizes a connection to the outdoors that would also serve as a base lodge for the Center’s many expeditions and accommodate L.L.Bean’s Summer Kid’s Camp.
CITé du Corps Humain
Montpellier, France | By BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group
Much like the evolution of a species, programming for the new Cité du Corps Humain (Museum of the Human Body) in Montpellier, France, developed from a very raw concept into a highly sophisticated and stunningly beautiful design—articulated through the language of rendering.
Luxury Island Resort+Villas
Haitang Bay, China | By DiLeonardo International
In this issue’s IIDA forum article, IIDA CEO Cheryl Durst notes that the emphasis on regionalism in hospitality design is one that perhaps should have emerged sooner because it creates a distinct association of place that lingers in the memory even after you’ve left—a key to any successful hospitality project.
Pingtan Art Museum
Pingtan, China | By MAD Architects
Designed as an island connected to an island, the new Pingtan Art Museum in Pingtan, China will soon be the largest private museum in Asia—and the third museum design by Chinese firm MAD Architects.
Xi’an Maike Business Center
(Grand Hyatt Xi’an) Xi’an, China | By RTKL Associates
A number of factors can alter or derail the scope of any project. For RTKL and the Xi’an Maike Business Center in Xi’an, China, the rendering process completely changed the direction of the project.
