Yan Kunstmuseum by Guanyu Tao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award i Gull in Arkitektur-, bygnings- og strukturdesign Competition Category.

GullArkitektur· 2025

Yan Kunstmuseum

by Guanyu Tao

Client: Gerry Tao

A' Design Award i Gull Winner in Arkitektur Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #163921

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Yan Kunstmuseum

Yan Art Museum redefinerer forholdet mellom arkitektur og natur, og fungerer som et kulturelt knutepunkt som feirer lokal kulturarv. Plassert i det robuste landskapet i Rushan, Shandong, henter den dekonstruktivistiske designen inspirasjon fra steinaktige teksturer og flytende konturer. Museet har vannomkransede plasser, kunstneratelierer, dynamiske gallerier og forestillingsrom, alle sammenkoblet på tvers av nivåer. Teksturert betong etterligner naturstein og integrerer sømløst strukturen med omgivelsene, samtidig som den transformerer det skrånende terrenget til funksjonelle stier og plasser.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award i Gull

Yan Kunstmuseum er vinner av A' Design Award i Gull, en enormt prestisjefylt anerkjennelse som tildeles førsteklasses, praktfulle og enestående design. Gullvinnere er usedvanlig nyskapende, visjonære og glamorøst blendende skaperverk som gjenspeiler designernes geni, visdom og dyktighet. Yan Kunstmuseum forventes å være en høyt rost, trendsettende og monumental oppfinnelse som gir enestående verdi. Dette designet, som har vunnet A' Design Award i Gull, er et spektakulært, respektert prosjekt som i høy grad gagner og flytter grensene for kunst, vitenskap, design og teknologi. Yan Kunstmuseum skaper intense følelser av begjær, vekker lidenskap, oppmuntrer til kreativitet og fascinerer oss.

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