The UCCA Ceramic Art Museum, designed by the renowned Kengo Kuma Architecture and Urban Design Agency (KKAA), adds a fresh cultural dimension to Yixing, a city celebrated for its rich ceramic heritage, especially purple clay pottery. Known as the “Ceramic Capital,” Yixing boasts a deep-rooted history in ceramic production, making it an ideal location for a museum dedicated to this art form.
Situated within the former ceramic culture center, the museum is surrounded by numerous factories and studios. This project aligns with the area’s extensive redevelopment plan, aiming to establish a vibrant ceramic culture hub that includes studios and workshops while preserving remnants of the old ceramic factory. The building’s distinctive wavy roof, clad in ceramic panels, stands as an iconic sculptural landmark within this Chinese city.
During the design process, KKAA drew inspiration from Shushan Mountain, a site historically admired by Su Dongpo, a celebrated literary figure of the Northern Song Dynasty. The building’s pottery-clad exterior also pays homage to the Dragon Kiln, a ceramic furnace with a history exceeding 600 years.
The museum’s sinuous, layered form is designed to mimic mountainous contours, weaving together the area’s historical and geographical narratives. Strategically placed openings throughout the mountain-shaped structure connect the museum to adjacent pottery factories and canals, enhancing site accessibility and reinforcing its cultural significance.
Inside, the UCCA Ceramic Art Museum features a striking inverted shell-shaped roof formed by a virtual sphere and supported by four layers of wooden lattice beams. These beams serve both structural and aesthetic functions, creating a light, dynamic interior environment. Their arrangement influences visitor movement and sightlines, encouraging exploration and interaction with the exhibits.
The museum’s facade was developed in close collaboration with local artisans to authentically reflect Yixing’s ceramic culture. The exterior features handmade ceramic panels that display a natural gradient of kiln-fired colors inspired by Yixing’s famous purple clay. This approach results in rich textures and diverse visual expressions, allowing visitors to experience the “warmth” of pottery through the building’s surface.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ Overall Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Structural Detail Schematic
△ Structural Detail Schematic
△ Structural Detail Schematic
△ Analysis Chart
Project Information
Architect: Kengo Kuma Architecture Urban Design Firm
Area: 3,437 m²
Year: 2024
Photographers: Tian Fangfang, Ghana Yongyi
Design Team: Terao Toyo, Bao Mengxian, Liu Qirui, Shen Yiwen, Luopan, Huang Xiaoshan, Ye Zimeng (drawing)
Lighting Consultant: Yu She Yu Zhu
Construction: Jiangsu Binjian Group Co., Ltd
Structural Engineering: Suzhou Kunlun Green Building Wood Structure Technology Co., Ltd
Location: Yixing, China
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