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.

The organic form and ecologically-inspired surfaces create spaces on the inside of the building that are open and comfortably scaled. This free plan allows for maximum flexibility and adaptability for the user.

The windows and skylights are arranged according to a natural fractal that brings light into the building. This pattern created a quality of light on the interior that is reminiscent of soft filtered sunlight shining through the forest canopy.

For further information and more pictures visit the architects’ website.

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