Shuyang Art Gallery in China / UAD Architects

© ZHAO Qiang

The Shuyang Art Gallery is located in the hometown of traditional calligraphy and is positioned as the calligraphy art gallery to display and inherit Shuyang calligraphic style. The concept of architecture abstracts the most fundamental three colors, black, white, and red of Chinese calligraphy from rice-paper, brush-pen, seal and creates a pure space experience with pure colors. 

Shuyang Art Gallery Technical Information

• Architects: The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd. (UAD)
• Location: Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, China
• Material: Brick
• Type: Art Gallery
• Area: 10475 m²
• Project Year: 2013
• Photographs: © ZHAO Qiang

The bottom of the body is overhanging to show a floating state, reflecting the spirit of detachment in calligraphy.

– UAD Architects

Shuyang Art Gallery Photographs

© ZHAO Qiang

© ZHAO Qiang

© ZHAO Qiang

© ZHAO Qiang

© ZHAO Qiang

Text by the Architects

The aesthetic interest of the calligraphy in the architectural layout referring to Zheng Banqiao’s calligraphic style is to respond to the ideological and practical work, the light and heavy, and the opening and closing of the calligraphy through controlling the size of the building, space, the contrast of the materials and so on.

The largest exhibition hall along the street has the red-bricked exterior wall, like a condensed seal printed on the elegant scroll of ink and wash. The way of cutting the corner through the arc surface strengthens the iconic character of the building along the street, forming a unique lasting appeal. Redbrick is Yixing clay brick, adopting three kinds of lining according to the different locations. The lower brick head outstands the wall, and the upper part intrudes the wall, and the cut part is flatly lined, forming different textures.

The ink volume and angle are cut and painted with dark grey fluorocarbon paint, and the wall presents a subtle color change in the blue sky, such as the giant stone, such as the ink block, with a simple and profound texture. At the bottom of the body, the rounded corners are processed to show the sense of gravity in calligraphy.

The white volume selects prefabricated concrete hanging board, and the surface is treated with the vertical chisels, such as rice-paper, which formed delightful contrast to the smooth and fine ink surface. The bottom of the body is overhanging to show a floating state, reflecting the spirit of detachment in calligraphy.

The tranquil water in the entrance is set up to keep off the noise of the outside world, and the visitors are introduced into the gallery by a bridge on the surface of the water. The continuous transition of space makes the visitors compose the mind quickly before entering the exhibition hall.

All the exhibition halls are open space without columns, which can be arranged freely according to the exhibition needs. Glass corridor connects the exhibition halls, in order to facilitate continuous exhibition. In the middle of the red-bricked exhibition hall, there are light wells through 3 floors, which create a bright and transparent indoor space.

The space relationship is controlled by the layout of “sparse enough to run a horse, dense enough with no needle”. It is close to keep a narrow lane of only 2 meters wide. Both sides are pure black and white volume, making people feel to walk among the books. Space will turn to open courtyard and create an open space effect。

There is a gray space in the way that the volume of the body is dug in an introverted manner, and the outdoor space can be extended into the indoor rest area. The tourists can enjoy the interesting space experience during the visit.

The paved road and roofed courtyards are inspired by the abstract pattern of the ink spreading. Through the different grayscale changes of the granites in the paved fields, an ink painting is formed.

Shuyang Art Gallery Plans

Shuyang Art Gallery Image Gallery

About the Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd. (UAD)

The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd. (UAD) was established in 1953. With a history of more than 66 years to date, it is one of the earliest First Class Design Institutes among major national universities.

The mission of UAD is to create harmonious environments, a global vision, complete services, and the highest professionalism. Over the years, it has won more than 1200 awards for outstanding design, excellent projects, or research outcomes at national, ministerial, and provincial levels, as well as 18 international awards.

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