Yan Whare Toi by Guanyu Tao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Koura in Hoahoa Waihanga, Whare me te Hanganga Competition Category.
KouraWaihanga· 2025
Yan Whare Toi
by Guanyu Tao
Client: Gerry Tao
A' Design Award Koura Winner in Waihanga Category
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- Verified Award Winner
- Verify Award Status for #163921
The Design
About Yan Whare Toi
Ko te Whare Toi o Yan e whakahou ana i te hononga i waenga i te hoahoanga whare me te taiao, e mahi ana hei pokapū ahurea hei whakanui i ngā taonga tuku iho ā-rohe. E tau ana i roto i te whenua mākohakoha o Rushan, Shandong, ko tōna hoahoanga whakawewete e tīkina ana te whakaaroaro mai i ngā āhua kōhatu me ngā āhua rere. Kei roto i te whare taonga ngā papa kua karapotia e te wai, ngā whare mahi toi, ngā whare whakaaturanga hihiri, me ngā wāhi whakaaturanga, e tūhono katoa ana puta noa i ngā taumata. Ko te raima āhua e whakataurite ana i te kōhatu taiao, e tūhono ngāwari ana te hanganga ki tōna taiao karapoti, me te whakawhiti i te whenua tāwheta hei ara whaihua me ngā papa.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award Koura
Ko Yan Whare Toi te toa o te A' Design Award Koura, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke tuatahi, whakamīharo me te hiranga. Ko ngā toa Koura he mahi tino auaha, he tirohanga mamao, he kanapa ahi, e whakaatu ana i te pūmanawa, te mātauranga me te tohungatanga o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Yan Whare Toi he hanganga tūnga e whakatū ana i ngā ia, he whakanuia rawa, e kawe mai ana i te uara kāore anō kia kitea. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Koura he kaupapa whakamīharo, whakahonoretia e whakawhānui ana i ngā rohe o te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau. Ka whakaara a Yan Whare Toi i te hiahia nui, ka whakaoho i te kaingākau, ka whakatenatena i te auaha, ā, ka whakamīharo i a tātou.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Yan Art Museum is a cultural hub that harmonizes architecture with the rugged terrain of Rushan. Unlike traditional museums, it transforms natural slopes into functional elements like pathways, plazas, and viewing platforms. Its dynamic layout fosters interaction between visitors and local artists through integrated studios and galleries. With textured concrete echoing rocky formations, Yan seamlessly blends cultural expression, innovation, and environmental integration.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Yan Art Museum is situated on a 2,700-square-meter site, with a total building area of 1,650 square meters distributed across three levels. The first floor features a courtyard-style entrance surrounded by scattered artist studios and galleries, creating an inviting and interactive environment. The second floor includes a small open plaza, a compact gallery space, and essential auxiliary facilities. The third floor houses an open-air theater designed for traditional Chinese performances, providing a cultural focal point while blending seamlessly with the natural terrain.
- Tags
- Architecture, Subterranean architecture, Rural architecture, Cultural architecture, Museum
- Production Technology
- Yan employs form board texture reinforced concrete, creating rock-like surfaces while ensuring structural stability during excavation. The design incorporates shallow-rooted plants in the landscaping to safeguard the building's structure and waterproofing. Its three interconnected levels, linked by stairs and elevators, are carefully oriented to harmonize with the site’s layout and ensure accessibility, blending functionality with thoughtful integration into the natural environment.
- Design Challenge
- Addressing the site's varied slopes was challenging. The design cleverly integrates the natural incline to facilitate plazas and pathways, turning elevation changes into advantageous viewing platforms. This strategic use of the landscape not only enhances functionality but also establishes visual corridors that accentuate the architectural form, allowing the building to blend seamlessly with its environment.
- Research
- Inspired by the deconstructivism movement and the works of Thom Mayne and Zaha Hadid, Yan Art Museum integrates seamlessly into Rushan’s rugged terrain. The research involved site, cultural, and user analysis, employing techniques such as hand-drawing and collage to explore design possibilities. Tools like Rhinoceros, Adobe Suite, and D5 Render were used to refine the dynamic structure, harmonizing architecture with topography and cultural identity while enhancing visitor experiences.
- Inspiration
- The design of Yan Art Museum stems from a deep desire to harmonize architecture with nature while engaging in a meaningful dialogue with the local culture of Rushan. Drawing inspiration from the rugged, dramatic landscape of the Rushan mountain range, the museum reflects the stony textures and flowing contours of the region. Through its loosely arranged, courtyard-style layout, the design pays homage to the organic forms of traditional Chinese villages, weaving cultural heritage into its spatial composition. This approach transforms natural and cultural elements into a dynamic hub for artistic and cultural expression. By intertwining natural forms with human creativity, the museum becomes both a tribute to and an extension of its surroundings, celebrating the beauty of the terrain and the spirit of the community it serves.
- Project Duration
- The concept design was finished in 2024 Sep, with site location at Shandong, Rushan, China.
- Operation Flow
- Upon entering Yan, visitors arrive at a plaza encircled by a pool and walls, leading to artist studios and the main gallery with rotating exhibits. An elevator and external stairs from the main gallery provide access to the second floor’s L-shaped plaza, which connects to the second gallery for permanent exhibitions. Visitors can ascend to the third floor via elevator or plaza stairs to reach the outdoor amphitheater, a venue for traditional performances.
- Patents
- Copyrights belong to Guanyu Tao, 2024
- Team Members
- Guanyu Tao
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Designer and Photo Rendering Guanyu Tao
Image #2: Designer and Photo Rendering Guanyu Tao
Image #3: Designer and Photo Rendering Guanyu Tao
Image #4: Designer and Photo Rendering Guanyu Tao
Image #5: Designer and Photo Rendering Guanyu Tao
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