FROM  A  Lamp  To  A  City                          


Palace Museum NarrativeChineseness & ModernismLocation: West Kowloon, Hong Kong SARAcademic work: museum
The Fire of Jumbo Floating Restaurant in 1971 (Photo by stheadline)

Jumbo Floating Restaurant was highly emblematic of traditional Chinese architectural style, featuring a characteristic Chinese-style roof, exterior corridors, and interior decor. However, the restaurant experienced a severe fire just one month prior to its opening in 1971. This photograph of the fire incident is imbued with significant historical and cultural resonance, as it prompts contemplation on the juxtaposition of traditional Chinese architecture and the modernization of the urban landscape in Hong Kong.

Chineseness is a complex and multifaceted concept that refers to the cultural, ethnic, and national identity associated with China and its people.It encompasses a wide range of elements, including language, history, traditions, values, and customs.

Modernism is a response to the rapid social, economic, and technological changes of the modern era, and it challenged traditional forms of art, literature, architecture, music, and thought.

As a former British colony, Hong Kong has been shaped by both Chinese and Western influences, particularly in the realm of architecture. In the early 20th century, as Hong Kong underwent a period of rapid urbanization and modernization, the city's architecture began to reflect a blend of Chinese and modernist elements.

The design project for this academic year involves the construction of a new Hong Kong Palace Museum on the original site of the Hong Kong Palace Museum. This endeavor presents an opportunity to explore how the utilization of modernist architectural approaches, such as spatial transparency, compositional logic, and the narrativity of architectural spaces, can be employed to interpret and imbue this project - which is deeply steeped in Chinese cultural characteristics - with a contemporary sensibility.


AI Generate
Key Words: Chinese Palace, Traditional Chinese Building, West Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, etc
The Images of West Kowloon
West Kowloon is the western part of Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong, situated within the Yau Tsim Mong District and Sham Shui Po District. It is principally a stretch of reclaimed land, which was subsequently developed in the late 20th century. There are three major phases of the West Kowloon's construction, the first one is Fundamental Construction, it includes Reclaimation and Highway Project, the expressway connecting Western Harbour Crossing in the south with Tsing Kwai Highway in the north. The Second Phase is about the Planning and Design of West Kowloon, this part has lasted for about ten years from 2001. In 2011, the Hong Kong Government chose to build The West Kowloon Cultural District, and this project is located in this district. At Present, there are three batches of construction, and some of the projects are still under construction. 

The Location of The Project 

The Axis of The Site
On this site, there are four key landscape axes: Kowloon, Tsing Ma Bridge, Lantau Island, and Central. This project attempts to integrate four different thematic exhibition blocks with the various landscape perspectives within the city, providing visitors with an interactive and dialogic exhibition experience.

Concept Model




The first exhibition gallery in the project is named "Palace at a Glance" (王都剪影), and it primarily displays two-dimensional artworks such as classical Chinese landscape paintings and calligraphy. Since traditional Chinese landscape paintings often depict impressionistic mountain and water scenes, this gallery is oriented towards the scenic views of Lantau Mountain. As visitors move through this gallery, they can experience the integration of the artistic landscape depicted in the paintings with the actual mountain vistas visible in the distance. Furthermore, the gallery features a central courtyard that allows visitors to catch glimpses of the site's entrance level, strengthening the visual connection between the visitors and the people circulating through the site.




The second exhibition gallery is called "Silk Road" (絲綢之路). The Silk Road was an important node for cultural exchange between the East and West, and this gallery primarily displays silk, garments, and embroidered artworks. What distinguishes this gallery from the others is its more expansive horizontal views and varying degrees of semi-outdoor spaces, such as external corridors and indoor gardens. This is because the gallery is oriented towards the views of the Tsing Ma Bridge, and the open vistas of the sea can evoke a sense of lightness that resonates with the delicate nature of silk fabrics. Additionally, the Tsing Ma Bridge, as an element representing a maritime transportation route, can inspire associations with the historical Silk Road trade routes.



The third exhibition gallery is named "A Thousand Years of Treasure" (千載遺珍). This gallery primarily displays smaller-scale art objects such as jewelry, ceramics, and stone artifacts. The landscape view from this gallery is oriented towards the lively urban scenery of the Kowloon City district. This creates a contrast between the quiet, contemplative exhibition pieces inside and the bustling, dynamic city view outside. Furthermore, the gallery features a large outdoor platform at the end, allowing visitors to stand and appreciate the flowing traffic along the West Kowloon Expressway.




The fourth and final exhibition gallery is named "Immortal Heaven and Earth" (天地不絕). This gallery primarily displays sculptures related to ancient Chinese rituals and the relationship between humanity and the divine. The central atrium at the end of this gallery features a 15-meter-tall statue. The landscape view from this gallery faces the modern cityscape of Central. As visitors contemplate the exhibition pieces while also taking in the distant views of Central and the nearer vistas of West Kowloon, they can experience a sense of temporal overlap, prompting reflection on the enduring legacy of Chinese civilization.

AXO View Drawing
Sectional Drawing
28th Graduation Year-book pp.62-65
Renderings

Physical Models


Project Book:https://issuu.com/wangsijie-9-3-3-1/docs/jerry_project_book_single_page

School’s IG Post:https://www.instagram.com/p/C8eUiHpy8wl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

TOP
©WANG SIJIE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED