Xu Wei Art Museum and Green Vine Square, flowing water scene

The project, to some extent, responds to key social issues such as the ancient city renewal, the industrial remains reuse and the community revitalization under the complex background of the site. Drawing inspiration from the large space combination of the old Shaoxing Machine Tool Plant, the distinctive volumetry of "longitudinal five-way, and horizontal three-fold unequal herringbone slope modeling" had been completed in the first site survey, which also absorbs the essence of traditional Chinese gardening means. The two floors volumes on the east and west sides serve as the main exhibition space, and the middle transparent volume serves as a transfer hub. The foyer runs through the north and south on the ground floor, while the small temporary lecture hall are arranged on the second floor. Horizontal three-fold unequal herringbone slope modeling alleviates the alienation of large-scale space itself, while the facades in black, white and gray tones make Xu Wei Art Museum ingeniously integrate into the surrounding built environment. Internal courtyards are inserted in different flat floors on the east and west sides of museum, which reasonably separates the space volume of exhibition hall and enhances indoor permeability. The gardening design of rocks and waterfalls shrouded in greenery also provides visitors with more possibilities for viewing and leisure besides participating in the exhibition. Additionally, architects especially retain the old walls at the east and north ends of the Machine Tool Plant, so that time can form tension in the contrast of static section. Located on the south side of the venue, Green Vine Square connects the museum on the north side with Green Vine Study (former residence of Xu Wei) on the south side, paving the way for the frontcourt atmosphere. The square continues the construction logic of the museum, and ‘lifts up’ two herringbone slopes on the east and west sides respectively: the west side is slightly raised to create a flowing water scene, while the step-like setting on the east slope serves as a drama stage to provide an appropriate place for distribution and gathering. With the help of local sinking, the volume of the visitor center is ingeniously hidden under the east herringbone slope. The square as a whole is paved with dark stone. Meanwhile, an original ‘Xu Wei Statue’ stands on the southwest side of the museum, being the visual focus of the square. Referencing to the gardening means of viewpoint transformation, the “continuous bedding” is formed in the constantly moving and changing viewpoint shift; and a complete and unified space experience and impression foil is constructed for the visual and psychological integration of architecture and landscape - that is the so-called landscape spirit originated from Jiangnan.