atelier diameter adds arch motifs to sculptural art gallery extension in nanjing, china

atelier diameter curves concrete for art gallery extension

 

Arch motifs and textured concrete are just two of the features of this 565 sqm art gallery extension and renovation designed by Atelier Diameter for Nanjing University of the Arts in China. The new intervention faces onto a small square within an area of the University’s high-rise dormitory accommodation.

 

The brief tasked Atelier Diameter to design exhibition spaces for two very different themes: Chinese culture and Western culture. The architects responded with a two storey building of fair-faced concrete aptly named ‘The Concrete Exhibition Hall’. The solid volume features a curved incision with a staircase that connects the two levels, the ‘Ancient Tile Research Exhibition Hall’ on the lower level and an ‘Ancient Oil Painting Restoration Exhibition Hall’ on the upper floor.

images by Aurelien Chen

 

 

Considering the project site within a lively area of student accommodation, Atelier Diameter set out to maintain and strengthen the strong sense of community. Part of this design intention included connecting each floor of the new building to the the street and existing bridge. The team also went one step further by squeezing in an outdoor space from the limited site area and creating a vaulted veranda on the second floor, attracting passersby from several directions.

 

‘Here, the key point of the renovation and extension is not technical breakthroughs and the increase in the number of areas, but the continuation of the campus’s rich artistic life atmosphere, and attracting students’ spontaneous gatherings and activities through the characteristics of the place,’ says Atelier Diameter 

 

The new ‘Concrete Exhibition Hall’ features double arches inside and outside inspired by the Wuliang Hall of Linggu Temple in Nanjing. Some of the arches are also decorated with a special texture that represents the brushstrokes of oil paintings and the fragments of ancient ceramics. 

 

 

project info:

 

name: Art Gallery Extension of Nanjing University of the Arts

location: Nanjing, China

client: Nanjing University of the Arts

architecture: Atelier Diameter

design institute: ZhongSen Architectural & Engineering Designing Consultants LTD.

lead architect: Zhang Nan

team members: Zhang Nan, Yang Junwei, Zhang Xiaoyuan, Sun Xiao, Ou Renwei
structure design: Jian Jin, Yulong Qiu, Yong Liu, Feng Wang
water and drainage supply design: Yujin Huang
heating and ventilation design: Lingye Song
electrical design: Kelan Cao
lighting consultant: Ning Field Lighting Design Corp., LTD.

area: 565 sqm 

completion: June 2019

photography: Aurelien Chen | @aurelien_chen_photography