Location: Ningbo, China.

Architect: Carlos Castanheira, Alvaro Siza Vieira.

Built in 2020, the Museum of Art Education of Ningbo is located on the North shore of Lake Donqian and has a triangular form with continuous walls. On the ground floor, the volume is isolated and bordered by planted or paved areas. On the Southeast side, an ample, full height triangular space is top lit by a roof light and surrounded by ramps. The basement and recessed top floor are differentiated by function and dimension. The project aims to create a harmonious relationship between the natural landscape and the pre-existing and planned buildings, while maintaining the role of protagonist that is appropriate to a public and cultural building.

The building is clad in corrugated aluminium sheeting and appears dark in the landscape, with controlled lighting using tube lights. A pedestrian ramp connects the museum entrance way with the road network of the nearby residential area and hotel.

Photo credit: HouPictures