Yuyuan Road is one of the most historically significant streets in central Shanghai. The Yuyuan Road Wall Museum is an art space designed specifically for pedestrians along this iconic street. Our goal was to create an instantly immersive experience. To achieve this, we designed a slim art museum measuring 5.2 meters long, hugging the wall tightly, and occupying less than one square meter of space.
At eye level within the wall pavilion, a 4.2-meter-long glass trough, just 30 millimeters high, serves as a display cavity for exhibits. Passersby can peer through the glowing narrow windows to view the artworks inside. Additionally, visitors can submit their own art creations to UNITU, the operator, by scanning a QR code located next to the wall museum. Each month, UNITU selects one piece from community artists to feature in the wall pavilion. This makes the museum a true community art space that belongs entirely to the pedestrians—from exhibition to viewing.
Since the construction took place within a residential community, it was essential to avoid disturbing the residents. For this reason, the entire pavilion was built overnight. We used a prefabrication approach in the factory, followed by on-site assembly. The main structure is an integrated steel frame, prefabricated with a 5-meter-long fiberglass outer shell coated with metal fluorocarbon paint. This shell forms the external enclosure when placed over the frame. The on-site installation was completed in just three hours, allowing the pedestrian-friendly art studio (BIM training) to open the very next day.
Detail drawing
The Wall Museum’s first exhibition features a photographic documentary of the traditional “shops” run by old Shanghai residents. Originally part of the 2017 Urban Design Festival, this exhibit was preserved due to its popularity within the local community. Despite being an illegal temporary street structure, it has become a local landmark and a remarkable example of community-driven art.
Project Drawings:
Floor plan
Sectional view
Posterior element
North Elevation
East Elevation
Detail drawing
Project Information:
Architect: Honjo Architectural Firm
Location: Yuyuan Road, Shanghai, China
Category: Temporary Installation
Principal Architect: Xiangnan
Design Team: Xie Huaiyuan
Building Area: 1.0 m²
Year Completed: 2017
Photographer: Chen Hao
Manufacturer: Luci
Lighting Design: Hong Weixiang
Owner: Design Cafeteria
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up