YINCHUAN – With a shape inspired by annual river floods, the proposed museum in Yinchuan, China, will mirror the texture and creases of local soil.  

Floods have occurred in the area for thousands of years; architecture studio waa used parametric design techniques to capture the aesthetic of the undulating water and soil patterns.

Beyond its distinctive sleek façade, the trinomial building will welcome visitors in a large atrium that will lead them to open exhibition spaces on three levels. There will be a strong focus on education, including a library, theatre, classrooms and workshop spaces.

Meanwhile, a glass reinforced concrete facade will enable a seamless transition between the design and the actual construction.

Set to house a museum of contemporary art, the project will serve as a lighthouse for the developing Yellow River Art Centre, the new art district in Yinchuan. Construction will begin this summer and is set to be completed in spring 2014.

Renderings courtesy of MIR

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