Location: Wuxi, China.

Architect: Atelier Diameter.

The Wuxi Meili Site Museum, designed by the Institute of Architectural History, CADG + Atelier Diameter, ZSA, is a public welfare project built for the archaeological site of the Shang and Zhou dynasties. The museum is located in the ancient town of Meili, with the Taibo Temple on its west side and the Bodu River on its north side. The design of the project centers around telling the founding story of Wu culture. The project team clarified the concept of the design, which is based on a modern architectural style, in reflection of the contemporary interpretation of heritage and the building technology excellence, while maintaining a close tie with the public life in adjacent urban areas. The building’s layout of the internal and external space is organized around the designed visitor flow. The exhibition is divided into six sections, and the overall narrative framework has largely been completed in the exhibition and display design process. The Meili Site Museum bears an unshrinkable responsibility to create an open space for the community in addition to the museum. The open space should be accessible to anyone at any time, giving the urban space back to the people. The exhibition hall of the site is an ideal venue for a rooftop plaza owing to its adjacency to the Bodu River and function as a joint at the exit of the museum. The triangular outdoor area is intentionally separated by floor-to-ceiling glass, facing north, and no direct sunlight through the glass wall will damage the site. People walking by may be surprised by the exhibition of the ancient site and the modern commercial district on the two sides of the glass wall.

Photo credit: Yang Chen