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The project aims to create an art 'exhibit' that is placed in the urban scale in its entirety, evoking the cultural memory of the area. We identified a large-scale, powerful shape that would fit into the planning structure, creating a counterweight and connection with the two emerging culture buildings in the surrounding area. The design is an abstract rhythm of regional culture, with prototypes derived from local Shang and Zhou dynasty artefacts and buildings in the Central Region of China, and creates an ambiguous image of 'resemblance' to capture a glimpse of cultural memory.
As a rapidly developing regional centre, the conflict between urbanisation and historical memory provides a dualistic and complex context for design. The absence of urban ambience, surrounding context constrain and the huge site scale seem to provide the flexibility for the design, but the strict axis and the huge distance from surrounding buildings pose a challenge for the project. We have created a balance of volume fusion through the conflicts and confrontation of large-scale forms, and the slopes and cuts around the building correspond to the environmental elements of the important buildings or public spaces around. The retracting and placing of the form is related to the city’s scenery, showing respect for the spirit of place.
The project is designed according to the two-star standard of green building（Chinese standard）. The building is equipped with rainwater recovery system, permeable pavement and sunken green space, which has the function of water-saving irrigation. The building uses energy-efficient equipment, providing energy-efficient lighting and intelligent control technology.
The introduction of natural light is the core of the interior design. The unique dormant window design makes the light diffuse, reduces the lighting energy consumption and brings unique light and shadow in the atrium space.
The design clearly divides the project into two parts in accordance with their separate functions, connecting the two at the base of the ground floor and at the top of the roof panel, anchoring two parts morphologically as one, while forming a central urban public space. The means of integration and connection make the entire building look overall, but its functions are independent of each other.
In the grey space of the main south-east entrance creates a large iconic twist to guide the public externally and to create a subtle change from different angles internally. On the eastern façade facing the city square, the design creates a translucent and massive mesh curtain wall, which forms a large frame in the atrium, showing the view of the bustling space in the city square to the east.
The project intends to shape the internal space in a way that unifies the 'inside' and the 'outside'. The essence of the architectural experience is based on the perception of the user during their journeies, and the integration of natural light to provide the change of experience in both spatial and time dimensions.
The gallery is organised through an atrium, with a sloping wall and staircase corresponding to the façade, which progressively opens up the space as the number of floors rises. The light and shadows from the skylight at the top constantly change angle, breaking the traditional dull environment of the museum.
REFLECTION: The core in the design process of Zhengzhou art museum and Zhengzhou archives is to break away from the traditional separate presentation and complex patchwork of cultural memory, environment and space shaping, and strive to construct an overall strategy to maximize the integration of form and space language, and create a “art exhibit” and “medium” belonging to Zhengzhou in a simple and holistic way between the retrospection of history and the foothold on the site.
Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co, Ltd. (TJAD) was founded in 1958 and has now developed into one of China's best large-scale design & consulting groups.
The lead architect Zeng Qun is the Vice President, Chief Architect, Professor level Senior Engineer of TJAD., a Chartered Member of the Royal Institute of Architects (RIBA) in the UK, and also serves as a Master's Supervisor and Visiting Judge of Tongji University School of Architecture and Urban Planning.
He has been nominated for the China Architecture Media Award, the first Hong Kong Institute of Architects Cross Strait and Four Regional Architecture Design Gold Award and Excellence Award, and the Taiwan Far East Award nomination. He has also won national and provincial level architectural design awards multiple times. His work has participated in exhibitions such as the Hong Kong/Shenzhen Urban Architecture Biennale, the Milan Triennial in Italy, and the Venice Biennale.
