Location: Shenzhen, China.

Architect: Lee Mundwiler.

The Geology Museum & Research Center in Shenzhen, China, designed by leeMundwiler, is a complex project split into two volumes – a museum and a research center – connected by a courtyard. The site is set in a volcanic geological park on the Dapeng Peninsula, and the design references the rugged mountain backdrop and nearby village streets. The client aims to achieve UNESCO heritage status for the site, so the natural surroundings are left untouched, and the functional elements of the complex are incorporated into the façade to encourage plant growth and soften the boundary between the site’s natural attributes and human intervention.

Photo credit: Lee+Mundwiler.