Jiashan, Zhejiang, China

Commissioned by the Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism, and Sports Bureau of Jiashan, The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd. have designed The Jiashan Museum and Library, one of the most important cultural investments in China.

With a length and depth of 100 meters, the magnificent structure is situated at the corner of a park. 

The architects added many commercial and art spaces to complement the cultural space, thereby creating a complex that integrates itself into citizens’ daily life.

The Jiashan Museum and Library has recently been awarded a 2022 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Drawing inspiration from local brick kilns, the team created an inner square, forming a strong contrast with building exteriors. 

The dynamic inner square offers a venue for gathering large crowds and serves a variety of public activities such as outdoor exhibitions and pop-up markets during holidays. 

The architecture has a smooth and simple appearance, which is complemented by large areas of flat and light-hued stone curtain walls characterized by textural contrast. 

Based on site conditions, the architects took the open void in the middle as the core and combined three architectural volumes around it to enclose a square for the public. 

The square provides resting space for citizens, while also being an outdoor extension of the foyers of the museum and library.

Moreover, it serves diversified public activities embodying the functions and image of an urban “knowledge hall” and “cultural living room.”

The library sits on the north side facing the river and boasts ample daylight, while the museum isolates it from the noisy urban road. 

The building volume at the southwest corner and close to the open urban landscape area accommodates shared ancillary facilities for the museum and library, including a lecture hall and casual dining area. 

Overall, the architecture has a smooth and simple appearance, which is complemented by large areas of flat and light-hued stone curtain walls.

Inner facades draw on the stacked structures of brick kilns and form brick-red curved surfaces. 

As night falls, the solid building exteriors form a strong contrast to the light inner square, becoming a “kiln entrance” that invites citizens to step in. 

The strong contrast between exterior and interior implies the idea that the unexpected and spectacular is hidden in a plain shell. 

The whole architecture is like a natural jade that reveals brilliance after being cut open, echoing the design theme “book repository and treasure kiln.”

Project: The Jiashan Museum and Library
Architects: The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd.
Design Team: Yang Yidong, Xu Ruofeng, Lin Zaiguo, Zhang Heng, Zhang Pengfei, and Luo Jingwei
General Contractors: Zhongyuan Construction Group Co., Ltd.
Client: Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Jiashan
Photographers: Zhao Qiang