Zisha mineral springs museum
In Huanglong Valley,
design: atelier XÜK
The city of Yixing is considered a center for the mining of matte-surfaced clay, including the particularly prized Zisha variety, used to make ceramics with a distinctive purple hue. The Zisha Clay Museum has been built in the nearby town of Dingshu, in the Huanglong Valley, on the site of the historic remains of the No. 4 mine. The design of this facility was developed by the Atelier XÜK architectural studio, in cooperation with the Department of Architecture at Southeastern University.
Zisha Mineral Springs Museum in Huanglong Valley (Dingshu, China) - aerial view of the museum
Photo by Yiming Yang, Xu Zhang, Shiliang Hu © Atelier XÜK
mine conservation strategy 4
The project focuses on protecting and revitalizing the remains of the Zisha No. 4 mine, which began operations in 1972 and ended in 1997. In 2009, the Yixing Municipal Government recognized the mine as a site of special cultural significance, listing it as a protected heritage unit. The goal of the project is to enhance, preserve and protect the ruins, which will gain the function of an outdoor exhibition space. The ruins have been connected to an indoor exhibition hall, providing adequate circulation.
Zisha mineral springs museum in Huanglong Valley (Dingshu, China)
Photo by Yiming Yang, Xu Zhang, Shiliang Hu © Atelier XÜK
The architects planned entry points that will lead visitors to the ruins of the No. 4 mine, linking this space to the newly created museum.
Zisha mineral springs museum in Huanglong Valley (Dingshu, China) - museum cross-section
© Atelier XÜK
Dingshu museum concept
The goal of the project was to create a space that would facilitate tourists' free exploration of the area and natural wandering. The museum's irregular form, made up of cuboid and conical blocks of various heights, allows it to blend seamlessly into the environment while remaining functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Zisha Mineral Springs Museum in the Huanglong Valley (Dingshu, China) - the facade surface consists of numerous glass tiles whose color changes in five shades
Photo: Yiming Yang, Xu Zhang, Shiliang Hu © Atelier XÜK
The facade of the building referring
to chinese traditions
The design of the building consisting of five solids was inspired by the symbolism of the five colors of Yixing clay, which refers to the ceramic traditions of the region. Themuseum's facadewas covered with numerous small ceramic tiles with colorful glazing. This finishing layer not only lends subtle lighting effects to the exterior walls, creating dynamic reflections of light and shadows, but also changes the shades of the tiles depending on the angles of light.
Huanglong Mountain-Zisha Mineral Springs Museum in Dingshu, China.
Photo: Yiming Yang, Xu Zhang, Shiliang Hu © Atelier XÜK
This gives the space a variety in perception, depending on the time of day and weather. In addition, glazing improves the functional properties of the facade, increasing its airtightness, resistance to external factors and structural durability.
The architects refer to Laozi's philosophy, which emphasizes the value of both existence and non-existence. They add that ceramics and architecture are contemporary interpretations of this wisdom. This combination of "being and emptiness" refers to the harmony between the preservation of historical elements, such as the mine ruins, and the modern design of the museum, which rises around these remains, creating a space where the past coexists with the present.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of studio Atelier XÜK.