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chinese studio pei-zhu has designed the xixi wetland art museum located in a rural nature preserved near hangzhou, china. the concept stems from the interaction between building and nature.
as leaves fall from trees they arrive naturally on the ground. the resulting form creates shelter against the earth. this design creates the genuine qualities of scattered, fallen leaves and
shelter through five buildings. some leaves overlap and attach with other leaves. one leaf remains separate, yet still unites in visual language with the linked leaves. the four linked
structures house functions for business, recreation, a hotel, restaurant, and reception. the single standing leaf is the art museum.
the buildings are covered by light colored, reflective zinc panels that have a brushed finish, resulting in a diffused and soft reflection of their interactions with people and nature. this
blending influences a person as they experience the museum. all colors, light, and details merge into a continuous representation that is not recognizable as individual objects, but are
distinguished as a uniform and natural image.
team: zeng xiaoming, he fan, ke jun, li si, ye xiaoqin, jiao chongxia, jing suchun and zhang jingwen design: 2008-2009 construction: 2009 total building area: 5,793sqm