Unveiling the Sichuan Guanghui Art Museum: A Fusion of Oriental Aesthetics and Modern Design

Meng Li's Award-Winning Design Transforms Artistic Spaces with Innovative Techniques

The inspiration behind the Sichuan Guanghui Art Museum is deeply rooted in Oriental values and literati landscapes. Meng Li used the rhythm of Oriental ink to convey these values, arranging the spatial sequence to create a flowing, inclusive public space. This design approach sets the museum apart, with its changing patterns of soil micro land-form architecture and interior space that transforms from low to high.

The realization of this design was a feat of architectural innovation. The main axis line is separated by large steps, with the two blocks developing independently. The ceiling, primarily composed of linear wood-grain aluminum plate and curved gray line, forms a spiral upward relationship. This design connects the function of literary creation store, hall, and coffee shop, creating a cohesive and engaging space for visitors.

The Sichuan Guanghui Art Museum covers an impressive area, with the central hall spanning 1002 square meters. The entrance is expanded from inside to outside, adjusting the whole spatial relationship. The museum also includes a 490 square meter coffee light food space and three halls that total 1550 square meters. These spaces are complemented by auxiliary functions such as a teahouse, office, and training facilities.

The design interaction within the museum is a blend of Chinese culture and Western techniques, achieving a natural flow throughout the space. Wave arrays consisting of wood-grain aluminium panels and wood-color aluminium profiles cover the lobby and elevator hall area connecting floating boxes. This design approach covers most roof equipment and hanging points, creating a rhythm of natural flow that aligns with the culture originally explored.

The project, which started in August 2016 in Chengdu and finished in November 2018, faced several design challenges. The multi-curved micro-topography roof of the museum brought a unique architectural experience to the world, but left the interior space of the building hall with an irregular edge and highly variable shell. To address this, the design team chose to respond to the original architectural form with architectural practice, integrating the demand of space division and the lift relation of building surface organically with the mathematical beauty.

The Sichuan Guanghui Art Museum is not only a testament to Meng Li's innovative design approach, but also a recipient of the prestigious Platinum A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2019. This award recognizes world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative designs that contribute to societal wellbeing and make the world a better place. With its unique blend of Oriental aesthetics and modern design techniques, the Sichuan Guanghui Art Museum is truly a masterpiece of design.