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DesignNewswire · COMO, Italy ·

Socal V Is Honored with the Silver A' Design Award for Crevice Art Museum in Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Socal V acknowledged for architecture, building and structure design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 19, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Silver A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category for Crevice Art Museum by Socal V. The recognition forms part of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

The Silver A' Design Award Explained

The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.

About Crevice Art Museum

Crevice is an art museum in Weihai, China. The design is inspired by the appreciation of mountains and water in the teachings of Confucius. Large triangular forms recall the terraced landscape of Shandong, while fluid paths recall its waterways. The museum stands on a site of 6,000 square meters and has a total building area of 10,000 square meters. Parametric tools were used to refine the roof structure and to improve material economy. Exhibition areas are adaptable and make use of natural light and views of the landscape. The intent is to present local culture in a contemporary way.

About Socal V

Yanci Chen is an architect and designer whose work explores the intersection of architecture, ecology, and cultural narratives. She is a Technical Designer at Gensler Seattle. Her experience spans workspace, science, cultural, and public projects with a focus on adaptive reuse, spatial storytelling, and digital methodologies. Chen’s work has been recognized in international exhibitions and design competitions, and she regularly contributes to the field as a juror, mentor, and advocate for inclusive, environmentally responsive design.

Award Record

With this recognition, Socal V is a winner of 1 A' Design Award.

About the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award

The A' Architecture Design Award is an international architectural design competition recognizing good architectural designs by best architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to architectural design studios, building contractors, structural engineering firms and architecture and design consultants from all countries. Typical entries include skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions and religious structures. The awarded architectural projects are published at https://designers.org/design-category/architecture

About A' Design Award & Competition

Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com

Press Resources

Media Contact

Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953

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Fact Sheet

The Work

Project
Crevice Art Museum
Function
Art Museum
Category
Architecture, Building and Structure Design
Discipline
Spatial Design
Industry
Architecture
Colors
Black, Dodger Blue, Dark Slate Gray, Cornflower Blue and Medium Turquoise
Images
5

The Recognition

Laureate
Socal V
Country
United States of America
Recognition
Silver A' Design Award
Edition
2024 - 2025
Design ID
#167267

Credits

Team
Yanci Chen, Jing Chen, Guanyu Tao, Zhiqian Xu
Image Credits
Creator SOCAL V

Design Details

Unique Properties
This design, inspired by Confucius' appreciation of mountains and water, merges with Shandong's terraced landscapes and waterways. The "Crevice" concept, embodying mountainous terrain with giant triangles and fluid waterways, harmonizes with the environment as a natural earth extension. It reinterprets ancient culture contemporarily. This approach shapes visitor experiences, encouraging a dialogue with the space and guiding them towards a culture of inner peace.
Inspiration
It drew inspiration from Confucius' wisdom, harmonizing mountains and water. It symbolizes the local topography through the "Crevice" concept, blending complexity, and water's transformative essence. It reflects tradition and innovation, fostering a dialogue with nature. The project's technical foundation lies in intricate terrain, pagoda roofs, and cultivated land, with spaces promoting cultural expression. The waterway represents change, offering unplanned discoveries and inner tranquility.
Research
Our research, an applied design study, aimed to integrate a museum within Shandong's landscape, reflecting local culture. We combined qualitative and quantitative methods, analyzing site characteristics, cultural history, and architectural styles. Utilizing Rhinoceros, Adobe Suite, Miro, and Discord, our team, including architects and historians, developed a design harmonizing with the natural environment. The results demonstrate the significance of cultural and environmental sensitivity in design, impacting sustainable architecture, cultural preservation, and enhancing visitor experiences in business and society.
Challenge
The main challenge was distilling vernacular architectural features, integrating folk culture with space, and blending into the site while fostering local development. Research on Shandong’s intangible cultural heritage, such as Rushan Qinshu, Shandong yangko, teahouses, and silk production, informed the design. By studying exhibition spaces, the project creates tailored stages for each cultural element, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in traditional Chinese culture.
Realization and Technology
Our design leveraged parametric tools to refine the roof structure, optimizing form and performance while maintaining aesthetic harmony. Computational modeling enabled iterative exploration, ensuring structural efficiency and material economy. We utilized Rhinoceros and Grasshopper for advanced 3D modeling, combined with environmental analysis tools to integrate sustainable strategies. This approach allowed us to align design intent with functionality, creating a cohesive and innovative outcome.
Operation and Interaction
The art museum operates interactively, with adaptable exhibition areas and installations that engage visitors. Its design guides a journey through art and culture, with key features like natural lighting and scenic views. The layout transforms with time and season, offering unique experiences on each visit. This integration of art, nature, and architecture enhances the visitor experience, making the museum a superior cultural destination.
Project Duration and Location
2023 in Weihai, China
Specifications
This art museum is situated on a 6,000 square meter site, with a total building area of 10,000 square meters. The design efficiently maximizes the use of space, ensuring a harmonious blend of form and function. Its spatial layout and structure have been meticulously planned to complement the surrounding landscape, while providing ample area for exhibitions and cultural activities. The technical specifications of the project have been carefully considered to align with both aesthetic and functional requirements, making it an exemplary model for contemporary museum architecture.
Keywords
Art Museum, Folk Art, Wood Structure,

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