Folk Customs Museum Design

Location: South Luogu Lane, Beijing, China
Time: Nov.2017- Dec.2017
Studio Critic: Youjia Wang

The design draws inspiration from the interrelationship between Qianhai (Front Lake), Houhai (Rear Lake), and Xihai of Shichahai in Beijing. The building’s form is conceptually derived from the shape and flow of these lakes, corresponding to the museum’s three primary functions: academic research, exhibition, and auxiliary support. Water elements are strategically incorporated into the site to echo the presence and rhythm of Shichahai, reinforcing a dialogue between architecture and landscape.

The spatial organization connects exhibition halls through elevated air corridors that frame visual connections and enhance spatial fluidity. A transparent glass box overhangs the entrance, creating a semi-open plaza beneath that serves as a performance space—inviting passersby and guiding visitors inward. Externally, a circulation path weaves through the adjacent Chaodou Hutong and Banchang Hutong, where audio-visual exhibitions activate the urban fabric and extend the museum experience into the neighborhood.