Architects: Kengo Kuma & Associates
Area: 4,970 m²
Year: 2015
Photography: Eiichi Kano
Facility Consultants: P.T. Morimura & Associates
Design Team: Teppei Fujiwara, Nahoko Terakawa, Shinya Kojima
Cooperation: Konishi Structural Engineers
City: Hangzhou
Country: China
The Folk Art Museum, designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates, is located on the China Academy of Arts campus in Hangzhou, China. The building adapts to the natural slope of the site with a layout based on geometric divisions and small, individual roofs. Its tile façade, made from reclaimed tiles from local houses, controls sunlight and helps the structure blend into its surroundings. Completed in 2015, the museum integrates traditional materials with modern design to connect with the local context.
The museum is situated on a site that was once a tea field and hillside, adding another layer of historical connection to the landscape. Located on the campus of the China Academy of Arts, it stands as a cultural landmark that links the art of the past with contemporary architectural practices.
The building’s design seeks to create a connection with the ground below, with its floors following the natural slope of the site.
The planning strategy is based on geometric divisions, using parallelograms to navigate the complex topography. Each unit of the building is topped with a small individual roof, giving the structure a village-like appearance, with rows of extending tiled roofs.
The exterior of the building features a screen of tiles suspended by stainless steel wires, allowing the amount of sunlight entering the building to be controlled.
These tiles, along with those used for the roof, were sourced from local houses. The tiles vary in size, helping the architecture blend naturally with its surroundings.
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Project Location
Address: 352 Xiangshan, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
