The Changzhou Xuhui Boyue Tianning Life Art Museum is situated in Changzhou, a historic town in the Jiangnan region. This location preserves the deep cultural and spiritual connections people have with Jiangnan architecture.
The design faces two main constraints. First, the site is located within a densely populated area surrounded by high-rise buildings, restricting land usage. Second, the building must initially function as a sales center but be adaptable for future transformation into a community center. Considering these challenges, the designer re-examined the relationship between the architecture and the site, deciding to base the exhibition area design on the concept of the “Jiangnan style dwelling.”
The Jiangnan style dwelling is characterized by two key aspects. First, it involves creating residential buildings constructed by combining roofs, courtyards, and walls. Second, Jiangnan gardens serve as both residences and courtyards, offering spaces for viewing, leisure, and living.
The exhibition zone is designed as a single pathway connecting various functions, mirroring the winding garden paths typical in Jiangnan gardens. Within the park path of the exhibition area, the design manipulates sightlines to offer visitors a dynamic experience of shifting scenes. This approach allows pedestrians to immerse themselves in the park environment while simultaneously experiencing traditional Jiangnan living culture.
Upon entering the exhibition area, visitors pass through a bamboo forest, serving as a buffer from the city’s noise. Beyond the bamboo, two abstract walls and a stone bridge mark the entrance to the courtyard and garden. The main functional space is a model display area, designed to allow visitors to experience varied outdoor views through movable walls and skylights. Elements like a pool, skylights, and walls evoke the feeling of a traditional Jiangnan alley. Additionally, a secondary lane, positioned off-axis, acts as a service route for staff. This architectural design aims to present space in a more engaging and dynamic way.
This project is designed with the intention that, over time, the exhibition area can be converted into a community cultural exhibition space or a small art museum. To support this transition, the circulation flow was planned to align with the flow typical of future art museums or galleries. Consequently, the interior design and lighting were developed to meet museum standards. The front section of the exhibition area will eventually be demolished, retaining only four exhibition halls. Each hall features distinct natural lighting, creating four unique lighting environments within the future museum.
Jiangnan residential buildings are a form of assembled architectural art, where individual materials—from walls and floors to roofs, courtyards, and water features—are combined thoughtfully. Typical materials include whitewashed walls, stone brick floors, and wooden roofs. This project breaks down the building into components, assigning distinct materials to each, emphasizing both construction and materiality.
Design Drawings:
Master Plan
First Floor Plan
Underground Floor Plan
Roof Plan
Sectional View
Entrance Facade
Interior Facade of the Water Institute
Back Facade
Eaves Design
Two Types of Stone Connection Details
Stone Base Connection
Stone and Full Glass Curtain Wall
Project Information:
Project Name: Changzhou Xuhui Boyue Tianning Life Art Museum
Location: Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China
Design Firm: Water Stone Design
Design Department: Design Department 3
Design Team: Yang Jihua, Zhu Liangbin, Zhang Jiaying
Design Consultant: Shen He
Scope of Work: Architectural design, planning, and design
Materials: Stone, aluminum panels, glass curtain wall
Completion Year: 2019
Project Scale: 149,000 square meters (main area), 2,600 square meters (demonstration area)
Status: Demonstration area completed; main area under construction
Photographer: Hu Yijie
Owner Team: Xuhui Group Sunan Regional Design and Development Department
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