AZL Architects recently opened the Jinling Art Museum, a project commissioned by China Overseas Real Estate as part of the Nanjing Jiangnan Jiuxu project. The museum is a striking blend of contemporary design and deep historical reverence, capturing the essence of Nanjing’s rich urban history and cultural traditions. With the theme of “Jinling Renaissance under the Wutong Tree”, the architects aimed to create a space that not only serves as an art museum, but also reflects the historical and cultural significance of Nanjing, historically known as Jinling.
Nanjing is one of China’s oldest and most culturally significant cities, with a history of civilization stretching back over 7,000 years. The city has been the capital of several dynasties and is an important preserver of Han culture, especially during the period of southern migration. The Jinling Art Museum was designed to honor this heritage while also representing the city’s ongoing development.
AZL Architects considered the design of the Jinling Art Museum as a collection of two rotated blocks connected by surfaces that create a striking twist. The base of the structure is aligned with the nearby residential high-rises, while the upper part winds parallel to the adjacent street. Departing from traditional mathematical or spiral forms, this rotated design symbolizes dynamic upward growth and reflects the vitality and historical significance of Nanjing. The interplay between the rotated diamond volume and the square base creates a rich spatial experience both inside and out.
A standout feature of the museum is its façade, which is clad in 139,000 custom-made ceramic tiles. These tiles, each measuring 60 x 60 x 180mm, were carefully selected to reflect Nanjing’s 3,100-year history and the importance of its ancient city walls. The ceramic tiles are inspired by a late Eastern Jin Dynasty brick currently housed in the Nanjing Museum. While the tiles have the same dimensions, they differ in texture and are both glazed and unglazed, adding depth and visual appeal to the façade.
The construction of the ceramic tile facade required innovative techniques, using two methods: a “mounted U-shaped slotted through bolt fastening” for the curved surface above the main entrance and a more conventional “mounted chemical anchor fastening” for other areas. These methods ensured safety and seamless integration of traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. Special tools were developed to drill precise holes and grooves in the tiles to accommodate the complex transitions between flat and curved surfaces.
The design of the ceramic tile curtain wall was modular, allowing for on-site assembly while maintaining the precision required for the complex facade. Each module, approximately 1.2 meters long, consists of a horizontal row of ceramic tiles mounted on a linear steel keel. This modular approach simplified the construction process for both flat and curved surfaces and enabled the creation of a seamless three-dimensional facade.
The Jinling Art Museum is a testament to Nanjing’s deep historical roots and its ongoing journey into the future. AZL Architects has succeeded in creating a space that captures the city’s rich cultural heritage while utilizing modern design techniques. This project is not only an architectural achievement, but also a cultural landmark that will inspire visitors and locals alike.
