The West Bund Long Museum: Atelier Deshaus’ Ode to Industrial Heritage

The Long Museum West Bund is situated on the banks of the Huangpu River in Shanghai’s Xuhui District, a location that was formerly used as a coal transportation wharf. Before the project’s design phase began, a Coal-Hopper-Unloading-Bridge from the 1950s—measuring approximately 110m in length, 10m in width, and 8m in height—remained on the site, along with a two-story underground parking structure that was completed just two years prior.

With the incorporation of shear walls, the first underground floor of the original parking area has been repurposed into an exhibition space. The overground section emphasizes various orientations due to the unique interplay of the “vault-umbrella” structure, into which the electrical and mechanical systems have also been integrated.

Concerning the overground space, the walls and ceiling feature an as-cast-finish concrete surface, making their geometric dividing lines appear subtle. This architectural choice not only provides a protective enclosure but also visually resonates with the Coal-Hopper-Unloading-Bridge. The building’s interior captures a timeless, primordial allure, enhanced by the tactile qualities of the as-cast-finish concrete surfaces, including the seams and bolt holes. This raw materiality, combined with the building’s large-scale overhanging elements, allows for a continuation of the site’s original industrial character, both in time and space.

The exhibition area beneath the overground as-cast-finish concrete “vault-umbrella” is connected to the “white box” space on the first underground floor through a series of spiral staircases. This design creates a sense of parallel tension in the space, which is both primordial and realistic. Art exhibitions spanning ancient, modern, and contemporary periods further contribute to an atmosphere marked by a sense of temporality.

Long Museum West Bund Plans