Yan 美术馆 by Guanyu Tao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award 金奖 in 建筑与结构设计 Competition Category.

金建筑· 2025

Yan 美术馆

by Guanyu Tao

Client: Gerry Tao

A' Design Award 金奖 Winner in 建筑 Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Yan 美术馆

烟美术馆重新定义了建筑与自然的关系,作为弘扬地方文化遗产的文化枢纽。博物馆坐落于山东乳山的崎岖地貌之中,其解构主义设计从石质肌理和流动轮廓中汲取灵感。馆内设有环水广场、艺术家工作室、动态展厅及表演空间,各空间跨层互联。肌理混凝土模仿天然石材,使建筑与周边环境无缝融合,同时将坡地景观转化为功能性步道和广场。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 金奖

Yan 美术馆是 A' Design Award 金奖得主，这是授予一流、绝妙而杰出设计的极为崇高的认可。金奖得主是极具创新、极富远见且璀璨夺目的创作，反映出其设计师的天才、智慧与才干。预计Yan 美术馆将成为一项备受赞誉、引领潮流、气势恢宏的发明，带来前所未有的价值。这件赢得 A' Design Award 金奖的设计是一个壮观而受人敬重的项目，极大地造福并拓展艺术、科学、设计和技术的边界。Yan 美术馆激起强烈的渴望，唤起激情，鼓励创造力，令我们着迷。

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