Project implementation: China
Project development: China
Building in Nature
Hidden underneath a dune by Bohai Bay, Dune Art Museum designed by OPEN Architecture returns to primal and timeless forms of space and directly responds to its ocean front site with a delicate ecosystem.
When asked to design a building along the shore, the architects of OPEN immediately knew this was a rare opportunity. They had been deeply concerned about the careless acts of wiping out dunes for ocean-view real estate developments that frequently happened in China at the time, fully aware of how critical dunes are to the environment.
The decision to build the museum into the dune was therefore deliberate. Because the very existence of the museum, this stretch of dune is ultimately preserved instead of destroyed for real-estate. After the structure was completed, sand was restored atop the building envelope, local shrubs and trees were replanted. The building was opened in October, and by the following June—just one winter and spring later—the plants had fully grown back. The museum had since effectively “disappeared” into a seamless coexistence with nature.
Here, the conscious act of building becomes protection rather than destruction, indicating a different mindset in climate practices and architectural engagement with nature.
Enveloped by sand, the museum’s interconnected, organically shaped galleries draw inspiration from natural caves. A series of cell-like contiguous spaces accommodate differently-sized galleries, a café, and some ancillary spaces. Openings frame views of the shifting sky and sea, allowing visitors to experience the landscape as part of the architecture.
The building’s many skylights, each with a different orientation and size, provide carefully calibrated natural light throughout the year. Its sand-covered roof greatly reduces heat load, while a low-energy, zero-emission ground source heat pump system replaces traditional air conditioning.
About OPEN:
OPEN is an architecture office that collaborates across different disciplines to practice architectural, urban, landscape, and interior design. We also research and develop design strategies in the context of unprecedented challenges facing our generation and beyond.
OPEN was founded by LI Hu and HUANG Wenjing in New York City. It established its Beijing office in 2008. Some major projects by OPEN include: Sun Tower, Shanfeng Academy, Chapel of Sound, Shanghai Qingpu Pinghe International School, UCCA Dune Art Museum, Tank Shanghai, Pingshan Performing Arts Center, Tsinghua Ocean Center, Garden School/Beijing No.4 High School Fangshan Campus, and Gehua Youth and Cultural Center.