Based in Paris and Shanghai, the young duo And Studio, comprised of Duccio Cardelli and Ning Wang, designed the Thangka Museum in Lhasa, Tibet. It's a showcase for the art of thangka, inextricably linked to Vajrayana Buddhist art, while simultaneously bringing modernity to the heart of tradition.
Encircled by the high mountains of the Transhimalaya, Lhasa is nestled in a truly majestic setting. It is here that And Studio erected this museum dedicated to thangka art, painted representations of Buddhist deities: "A jewel that appears to have been carved from the rock of the surrounding mountains."
The two architects explain: "For this project, we wanted to reconcile modernity and tradition. We undertook a true initiatory journey to learn about and understand thangka art, local architecture, particularly its expressions of volumetric composition."
Thus, echoing the Potala Palace, the former residence of the Dalai Lamas, the project was conceived not as a single unit or uniform mass, but as an archipelago of volumes. Discerning eyes will recognize typical elements of Tibetan architecture, such as the sloping walls. As for the decoration, gold leaf, bronze, wood, and all the colors associated with Buddhism, such as "Tibetan blue," but also yellow and red, are used.
Anchoring the project locally was also a key objective, particularly through the use of local resources and the promotion of vernacular building practices. Rammed earth, an ancestral local technique, was used in the exhibition spaces and the lobby. Furthermore, Tibetan artists were commissioned by Duccio Cardelli and Ning Wang to design certain more specific elements of the project. As for the building's structure, it was constructed using concrete to avoid excavating quarries, which is now prohibited, in order to preserve the landscape.
Light also plays a key role in this building, filtering in here and there through the walls and ceilings of the rooms, via screens and cracks. The traditional silk lanterns found in monasteries also served as inspiration for the design of the exhibition space.
For the museum's layout, the architects sought to evoke the image of a spiritual journey, using a play of volumes to allow visitors to reach different levels with varied viewpoints, reminiscent of the stages of Tibetan mountain pilgrimages. This ascent culminates on the upper terrace with the display of a majestic thangka, nearly 15 meters long, which is attached to the tower twice a year during the Sho Dun Festival.
