Yellow River National Museum by gmp · von Gerkan Marg and Partners Architects

Architecture & Landscape
The Yellow River is considered the cradle of the Chinese nation. In addition to the historic importance of the about 5,000 kilometer-long river for the cultural development of China, the future Yellow River National Museum in Zhengzhou will also focus on its ecological aspects. The design by architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) for the new museum reflects the meandering river landscape and forms a bridge between nature and civilization, both in terms of urban design and content.

The museum will form the main attraction of the Yellow River National Cultural Park to the north of Zhengzhou. It rises from the hilly landscape at the banks of the river and, with its streamlined shapes, becomes an integral part of it. Rising and falling gently, the polygonal building crosses a watercourse in the park. The green roof landscape, which has been designed as a continuation of the park, guides visitors to exceptional views across the Yellow River to the north and the city of Zhengzhou to the south. The contrasting, rather solid-appearing facades of the museum represent protection against the power of the mighty river.

The materials and the theme of the exterior continue on the inside. The entrance to the main hall is located beneath the raised portion of the building at the watercourse. Curved walls that create an image of rounded river stones and ceilings reflecting a pale yellow guide visitors through the museum. Functionally, the museum is divided into the exhibition areas in the northern wing and the area for the museum educational service, the archive, library, and service functions in the southern wing. The four exhibition halls, with a total area of 40,000 m², provide space for exhibitions on the history and ecology of the Yellow River, as well as changing exhibitions and themed areas.

Green Paths & Water Promenade
The park surrounding the new National Museum on the Yellow River becomes part of the exhibition setting. The meandering building blends harmoniously into the park-like landscape, which reflects the river and its characteristic landscape spaces. The design combines architecture and nature, with the roof playing a central role as the fifth façade. Designed as a park, it connects and represents the diversity of cultural spaces along the river.

The landscaping of the park and roofscape is based on curved paths that echo the natural course of the river. The roof form rises gradually and offers views of the Yellow River. The promenade leads to the highest point of the roofscape, a 40 meter high viewing platform. The path across the roof is flanked by variously designed green spaces that incorporate functions such as open-air theatre, picnic areas and exhibitions and allow visitors to experience the diversity of cultural spaces along the Yellow River. Seating steps integrated into the rising landscape invite visitors to linger. The vegetation and the mixture of evergreen, flowering and deciduous trees of the surrounding park are continued on the building.

The building forms a bridge over the central water promenade. The watercourse invites visitors to stroll, linger or play with its variously designed areas and water features. The intersection of the two paths also marks the entrance area to the museum building. An organically shaped atrium penetrates the building here and directs daylight from the roof onto the water surface; in addition, the opening can be staged with a water curtain. Inspired by the principle of the sponge city, the water landscape is fed by rainwater, which is collected in underground reservoirs and then purified before being channelled into the water cycle.

At night, the lighting integrated into the façade emphasises the flowing form of the building and the park. Lawn lights set into the steps of the roofscape and spot lighting of the treetops from below emphasise the green landscape in the dark.

The landscape park of the Yellow River National Museum links the Yellow River Ecological Park and the Suoxu River Site Park to form a holistic green space. In addition to linking the three parks, the combination of architecture and landscape emphasises the importance of the museum as a landmark.

Now that the building and landscape have been completed, the next step will be the exhibition areas inside.

• All landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape:
gmp · von Gerkan Marg and Partners Architects
with Rehwaldt Landscape Architects, Beijing

• All architecture offices involved in the design:
gmp · von Gerkan Marg and Partners Architects
Partner Practice in China: China Academy of Building Research (CABR)

• Other credits:
Client: Henan Zhengzhou Development Culture and Tourism Investment Co. Ltd.
Lightning Design: Conceptlicht GmbH
Facade consulting: SUP Beijing
Photo credits: Marcus Bredt