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Herzog & de Meuron have won a design competition for a new museum complex on the banks of the 1,800-kilometre-long manmade Grand Canal in Hangzhou, China. Aiming to reflect the importance of the Grand Canal to the cultural and natural landscapes of China, the civic gathering place will house 50,000 square metres of exhibition space.
The property is located at the junction of the Grand Canal and the Hanggang River, which connects to other major development areas in Hangzhou's north. Creating a sheltered public space underneath, the building will be elevated 12 metres and surrounded by water on three sides, with a large mountain-shaped conference centre and hotel complex anchoring the museum on the east side.
"This setting embodies 'water in the front, mountain in the back'—a classic Chinese ideal of harmonious integration of people, buildings and their natural environment," reads the design statement from Herzog & de Meuron.
A facade of concave cast glass mimics the sparkle of rippling water while an opposing facade is solid in its materiality. Landscaping surrounding the complex extends to the roof, enhancing the sustainability of the project and integrating the green roof into a storm water management system.
The design competition was launched by the Hangzhou Canal Preservation and Development Construction Group in September 2019 following a pre-qualification phase. Herzog & de Meuron's proposal was selected unanimously in November, beating out entries by David Chipperfield Architects and Zaha Hadid Architects.
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