In the heart of Shapu Art Town in Shenzhen’s Bao’an District, the iADC Design Museum by Rocco Design Architects Associates is designed as a cultural hub and landmark for a new neighborhood built on a previously undeveloped plot of land. A folding façade opens away from the corners of the building, opening up an entrance that ushers visitors towards a grand stairway on onward to the galleries.
To create a core this once previously disjointed area, the design introduces a network of public gathering places and walkways that organize the surroundings into a cohesive neighborhood centered on the Museum. By lifting the galleries off the ground and suspending them in a floating volume, the ground floor opens up into a public plaza that spans the site’s length. Punctuated by sunken courtyards connected to the museum’s basement, the plaza offers lively gathering spaces.
The striking façade is most notable for its series of folds, which peel away to create a sense of transparency between the public street and the galleries inside.
Inside, the Museum is split into two wings – one displaying Chinese art, the other exhibitions of contemporary design that interlock around a central staircase. Ascending through the Museum, the folding facades open up views of Art Town, enhancing the sense of connection between the Museum and the surrounding district.
