Project: Zushan Ji Xin Monastery, Wood Buddha Statue Museum
Location: Qin Huangdao, China
Award: Publicly Accessible Interiors: Museums & Galleries, Gold, 2023
Design Practice: ARCHSTUDIO
Client: Zushan Xinchao Tourism Development Co., Ltd
The camphor wood Buddha statues that form the centre piece of the Wood Buddha Statue Museum changed hands multiple times over the course of several decades until being returned to China, and their new home at Ji Xin Monastery. Drawing inspiration from religious symbols like Mandala and Borobudur, the design for the Wood Buddha Statue Museum interprets the spiritual essence of Buddha culture and art in a contemporary and innovative way.
A hollow Buddha pagoda in the centre of the hall provides a vertical display for the Buddha statues. The pagoda has seven layers that grow steadily narrower to meet at the square ceiling of the hall. Ornamental features such as lotus-shaped pedestals create a visual effect of ripples spreading within the pagoda.
Design highlights
To control the amount of natural light entering the building, a translucent film is applied to the exterior glass surfaces. The pagoda's structural beauty is accentuated using concealed lighting, which illuminates the building's form. At the dome of the pagoda, three layers of lighting troughs are installed, with each layer gradually transitioning to a lighter colour.
Photo credit: Wang Ning, Jin Weiqi, Xiao Shiming
CHIEF DESIGNER: Han Wenqiang
DESIGNER: Wang Tonghui