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The Zaishui Art Museum, a masterpiece of architecture created by the talented Japanese architect Junya Ishigami, appears like a soft white silk ribbon draped across a tranquil lake. This image is both poetic and romantic, yet also embodies a modern, minimalist spirit, leaving viewers in awe and admiration.
A stunning, one-of-a-kind museum floating on the water in China.
Located in the heart of Shandong Province, China, stands a colossal architectural structure with an impressive length of 1 kilometer. This is not just an ordinary construction project, but a passionate undertaking, carrying within it the mission of reviving the harmonious relationship between humanity and nature.
The building, with its impressive architecture, proudly rises above the beautiful lake.
This building is not simply a structure, but a multi-functional architectural complex encompassing various areas to meet diverse needs. A large, modern exhibition space showcases unique works of art, cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements, and valuable cultural and historical artifacts. The visitor center is designed to be user-friendly and convenient, providing comprehensive information and support services for visitors. The retail space is strategically arranged to facilitate shopping and experiences for visitors.
The museum, with a floor area of 20,000 square meters, is supported by 300 pillars placed in a 2-meter-deep pool.
The structure consists of two reinforced concrete branches, connected yet independent. The first branch, with its gently undulating structure nearly 1km long, is built within an artificial lake, allowing water to flow inside, creating a vibrant "indoor landscape painting." The accompanying building is located to the northwest of the site, nestled on nearby dry land. This space includes a café, restrooms, and additional exhibition space.
The floor-to-ceiling glass structure creates a light and transparent feel, and during warmer months, the glass panels can be opened to allow natural breezes to flow inside.
The architects designed the main building along a linear length to integrate with the lake, creating a seamless skyline by channeling water into the structure. The entire museum aims to “bring the outdoor landscape indoors.” Parametric design creates varying heights, widths, and slopes, ranging from 1.22m to 4.95m high and 4.8m to 20m wide.
The architect explained: “In some places, the curved roof gently descends, blending with the lake and the hillside behind; in other places, it rises towards the sky, expanding and connecting the building’s interior with the surrounding landscape.”
The museum is also designed with many open spaces, connecting the interior and exterior, creating a feeling of closeness to nature. Natural light floods the spaces, along with the dominant white color... an architectural work that both harmonizes with the surrounding environment and creates an impressive focal point. In particular, each viewpoint in the museum offers a different visual experience.
A harmonious connection between nature and humanity is a key element in the design inspiration of this project.
Spanning the length of the building is a raised concrete walkway, mimicking a long stretch of sand on a beach. This walkway is designed to be 10cm above sea level, with organic curves inside, resembling a real beach.
Inside the museum, rough, veined local sandstone is used for tables and chairs. The architect said: “The concept of this building is based on creating a new landscape inside. A new exterior is born within the structure. Therefore, a new ecosystem can gently accompany us inside this architecture.”
When given the task of creating a space related to water elements, Junya Ishigami and his colleagues studied the canals of Venice (Italy) and ancient river towns in China.
Zaishui is not just a traditional art museum, but also a place showcasing contemporary works and multimedia art exhibitions, creating a creative and innovative space. Visitors can admire the artworks through multiple senses, from sound and light to even scent. It is also a place where the art-loving community meets, interacts, and shares through regularly held workshops and seminars.
Running along the building is a concrete walkway that mimics a long stretch of sand on a beach.
The Zaishui Museum is not just a simple architectural structure, but a powerful statement about the harmony between humanity and nature. It is living proof that we can create structures that are both aesthetically impressive and environmentally friendly, contributing to the protection of our planet.
The museum is not only a pioneering project, but also an endless source of inspiration for generations of architects and artists worldwide. It opens a new direction for sustainable architecture, encouraging designers to seek innovative, environmentally friendly solutions to create ideal living and working spaces for people.
