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Contemporary architecture in China has moved beyond the pursuit of high speed and large volumes to explore cultural traditions and life styles. As a result, the waterfronts of many cities – like the riverfronts of Xuhui and Yangpu in Shanghai, and the West Lake neighborhood down to the banks of Qiantang river in Hangzhou – are now graced by new cultural landmarks.
The tidal Qiantang river in Hangzhou is both a famous natural and manmade landscape. Its famous tidal surge has been the subject of countless poetic depictions by literati and writers throughout history – fourth century philosopher Zhuang Zi described it as “swallowing the sky and the sun” in his Nanhua Jing. The cyclical tidal rhythm of the Qiantang river in its vast landscape recalls the vastness of the universe, its boundless time spans and the continual flow of life.
Designed by line+ studio, the Qiantang River Museum is an apt metaphor of the sensations this landscape evokes. Appropriately called “The Swirling Tide”, this upwardly spiraling structure stands at the confluence of the Qiantang river and the Grand Canal. The site of the building is significant both culturally and in terms of landscape. The architects incorporated the design of the former seawall built to protect the city of Hangzhou. Although visually prominent, rising at the end of the small delta formed by the confluence of the two rivers, strict landscape conservation requirements limited the building’s height and footprint. Yet, despite its relatively small size, the museum combines science and technology, history, the humanities and folklore. Compliance with the size constraints required to safeguard an ancient cultural site led the architects to place two-thirds of the building’s surface area underground.
Another challenge was maintaining continuity with the adjacent open urban waterfront. This was solved by creating a volume...
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