Yinchuan Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) | waa (we architech anonymous)

Yinchuan Museum of Contemporary Art

The10,000 square meter extraordinary shaped solution for the Yellow River Art Centre is a work of  We Architech Anonymous (WAA). The project  is to be built within a new eco city, being constructed on the banks of the yellow river in Yinchuan Ningxia province with ambitious plans for over 500,000 inhabitants. The new city will place the arts as its central focus to harness a pedestrian friendly parkland focused town centre. More images and architects’ description after the break.

photography by © NAARO

The Yellow river is the second longest river in China its basin is considered the birthplace of the most ancient settlements in mainland china so has the title of ‘the cradle of Chinese civilization ’. However frequent flooding over the last millennia has illustrate its destructive force this volatile character can be observed through satellite imagery which point to the rivers ever changing location depositing huge volumes of sediment and debris in the process around Yinchuan. The earliest known individual to theorize on geographical formations was the Chinese scientist Shen Kuo (1031-1095 AD). He theorized that landscapes should not be considered a static entity.

photography by © waa

We are interested in how architecture can be derived from the modern study of geomorphology, through harnessing the identity and perceived power of this at times perilous geological feature. We Investigated relationships between water erosion and mountain formation one type in particular which was local to Yinchuan is known as pressure release (unloading).

photography by © waa

This process is instigated by displacing large volumes of rock causing underlying and surface rocks to expand fracture and subside parallel to the surface. Often overlying rock experiences high pressure under them as the underlying rock is heavy, slowly pressure releasing effects on the underlying rock can be observed as layers of underlying rocks are pushed upwards.

photography by © NAARO

Architects: Waa (We Architech Anonymous)
Location: Yinchuan, China
Local Architect: Ningxia Architecture Research and Design Institute
Function: Contempory Art Museum + Sculpture Park
Site Area: 15,000 sqm
Construction Start: Summer 2012
Construction Ends: Winter 2013
Open to Public: Spring 2014