The Jining Art Museum in Shandong was designed by Japanese architect Liwei Nishizawa. He masterfully integrated architecture with the landscape, creating three independent yet interconnected buildings through a distinctive architectural language. The organic roof shape extends the interior space of the museum into its surroundings, establishing a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor environments.
Located on the outskirts of Jining City, the museum serves multiple functions—it is not only an art museum but also features a café, a pavilion, and forms part of a new cultural center development. The single-story building consists of a series of spaces connected under expansive organic roofs. These overhanging roofs create an outdoor “wind and rain corridor,” a pavilion-like transitional space surrounding the structure.
The roof’s organic design aims to expand the museum’s interior volume and link the various blocks through covered eaves. Most of the museum’s spaces are sheltered beneath these roofs, forming semi-outdoor areas that offer a cool retreat during Jining’s hot summer days.
The exhibition spaces are organized around several central courtyards and are connected by glass corridors. These corridors not only link the different areas but also house functional spaces such as cafés, lounges, and bookstores. The extensive use of glass unifies the exhibition areas with the surrounding environment, enhancing the connection between interior and exterior.
Moreover, the architect incorporated locally sourced blue bricks throughout the design, paying homage to the traditional cultural heritage of Jining City.
Besides the main museum building, the two additional structures also feature the same organic flat roof design. This lightweight, flowing roof style evokes memories of SANAA’s 2009 snake-shaped exhibition hall, which winds around existing trees at Hyde Park, blending with the landscape.
The Jining Art Museum officially opened to the public in 2019 and marks the first art museum project by Pritzker Prize winner Liwei Nishizawa in China.
Technical Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
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