Architectural Innovation in the Heart of Hangzhou
Aedas has transformed museum design with the Yohoo Museum, a striking glass structure nestled on an island in an artificial lake in Hangzhou. This architectural marvel, known as the Yohoo Museum, was completed in 2024 and defies traditional design by embracing glass, sculpted into two interlocking rings. The design echoes the ritual jade rings from the Liangzhu culture, a civilization that flourished 5,000 years ago in this region of China.
The Thought Behind the Design
Led by Ken Wai, Global Design Principal at Aedas, the structure spans 57,650 square feet (5,356 square meters) within Liangzhu Yohoo Park. The “emerald glass” exterior, a translucent multilayer laminate, bathes the interiors in a gentle light. A steel frame elevates the ends of the rings, providing sheltered plazas below. This innovative structure has earned awards, including the Architectural Design of the Year and Gold in the Cultural category at the International Design Awards. The museum architecture beautifully captures modern themes while respecting historical influences, an epitome of cultural design.
The stunning use of glass and integration of historical themes can also be seen in David Spriggs’ transparent art where color and layers transform the viewer’s perception.
Symbolism and Cultural Connection
Liangzhu jade’s signature shapes, the bi and the cong, inspire the design. The museum’s rings reflect these forms, symbolizing a connection between heaven and earth. The surrounding lake connects to the Grand Canal, underscoring Hangzhou’s historical significance as a trade hub. The canal, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014, and the Liangzhu ruins, listed in 2019, frame the museum as a bridge between two heritages.
Structural Elegance of the Design
A single steel frame supports the building, creating a lifted edge feature that shelters public plazas underneath. These areas are vibrant with activity, inviting the public to enjoy the space, whether they visit the galleries or not. The interior is a luminous space with a dense white steel diagrid filled with translucent glass, characteristic of the museum’s innovative approach.
A Serpentine Journey
A white boardwalk winds across the lake, leading visitors to the museum and offering multiple viewing angles. A broader bridge connects the museum to the main park, where curving paths and a petal-shaped garden extend the thematic design. The museum’s luminous glass exterior contrasts sharply against the urban backdrop of apartment blocks, enhancing its visual impact.
Exploring the impact of modern interpretations of cultural design, transformative light design by Polysmiths integrates traditional elements with innovative techniques.
Yuhang is already home to David Chipperfield’s 2008 travertine Liangzhu Museum and Tadao Ando’s 2016 concrete cultural center. These structures honor Liangzhu’s history as weighty and enduring. Aedas, however, has chosen to celebrate light and transparency at the Yohoo Museum, a reflection of the ancient craft of jade carving, which aimed to evoke a soft glow from solid stone.
Source: yankodesign.com
Frequently asked questions
What inspired the design of the Yohoo Museum?
The design of the Yohoo Museum was inspired by ritual jade rings from the Liangzhu culture, a civilization that flourished 5,000 years ago in the region around Hangzhou. The museum’s rings symbolize a connection between heaven and earth, reflecting the shapes of the bi and the cong.
How does the Yohoo Museum connect to Hangzhou’s history?
The museum is situated on an island in an artificial lake that connects to the Grand Canal, emphasizing Hangzhou’s historical importance as a trade hub. This location, along with the design inspired by Liangzhu jade forms, frames the museum as a bridge between two heritages.
What is unique about the construction of the Yohoo Museum?
The museum features a single steel frame that supports the building, creating a lifted edge that shelters public plazas underneath. The exterior consists of ’emerald glass,’ a translucent multilayer laminate, and the design is characterized by a luminous space with a dense white steel diagrid filled with translucent glass.
More in
Architecture
All Architecture
More like this
Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Abu Dhabi: A Monumental Opening in December 2026
Hangzhou's Urban Landmark: OMA's 43,000 m² Prism Connects Cityscape with Rail and Park Views
Wittman Estes Transforms a Timber Retreat with Glass and Efficient Design on Blakely Island
Suzhou's Serene Fusion: Twelve Pavilions and a Theater Unite Under Bjarke Ingels' Visionary Roof
Lisbon's Lilac Apartment: A Dynamic Fusion of Space and Design by BUREAU
