The main exhibition venue for the 2019 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season is situated at the historic Yangpu Binjiang Shanghai Shipyard, which has a legacy spanning over 150 years. The design involves renovating two shipyards and a wool warehouse to accommodate the new art exhibition functions. Additionally, a temporary building—a security shed—has been constructed to support services at the main entrance of the exhibition site.
△ Security checkpoint and dock © Octopus sees architecture
The security shed features a metal roof approximately 49 meters long and over 20 meters wide. One corner of the roof is folded and tilted towards the ground, supported by rows of scaffolding. The eaves of the sloping roof rise high, facing the gathering square, while the opposite side sharply descends to the ground, creating a striking visual dynamic.
△ View from the Mao Ma warehouse to the security checkpoint © Octopus sees architecture
△ Aluminum sheet roof of the security inspection shed © Octopus sees architecture
At the southwest corner, the roof gently flips upward, adding a sense of movement and guiding visitors clearly into the main exhibition hall. The scaffolding is arranged both horizontally and vertically in a staggered pattern, creating a landscape that resembles a dense forest of steel pipes. The overlapping structural elements create a visual haze and ambiguity, evoking feelings of uncertainty and spatial diversity.
△ Security screening shed and passage © Octopus sees architecture
Four functional boxes, subtly visible, reflect the silver sheen of the surrounding scaffolding. Visitors wander through this silvery, hazy environment, briefly pausing before continuing, thus entering an artistic narrative about the city and space.
△ Night view of the security checkpoint © Wu Qingdong
At night, the security checkpoint takes on a different character under lighting. The red “bottom of the boat” design element stands out beyond the scaffolding, becoming the visual centerpiece. Linear lighting fixtures mounted on the top crossbars of the scaffolding cast light upwards towards the roof, creating a visual boundary between the bright red roof and the dark night sky. The roof exhibits a gradient effect from top to bottom, shifting from light to dark, evoking the image of a giant docked ship ready to set sail.
△ Night view of the security checkpoint © Octopus sees architecture
△ Night view of the security checkpoint © Octopus sees architecture
△ Night scene of the main exhibition venue during the 2019 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season © Tian Fangfang
Design Drawings
△ Design evolution process plan
△ Final design solution evolution
△ Disassembly diagram showing axis measurements and schematic of main load-bearing structures
△ Plan view
△ South elevation view
△ North elevation view
△ Section A-A view
△ Section B-B view
Schematic diagram illustrating structural nodes for the aluminum sheet roof
△ Socket-type scaffold buckle node
Disassembly diagram of △ functional box body
Project Information
Project Type: Temporary Installation, Renovation Project
Location: Shanghai, China
Architect: Tongji Original Design Studio
Area: 1,400 m²
Year: 2019
Photographers: Octopus Jian Zhu, Tian Fangfang
Lead Architects: Zhang Ming, Zhang Zi, Qin Shu
Design Team: Su Ting, Li Xuefeng, Yu Dian (intern), Jing Zhenqi (intern)
Structural Engineers: Wang Rui, Liang Feng
Client: Shanghai Yangpu Binjiang Investment and Development Co., Ltd
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