Beijing-based architecture firm AOE has produced a fine work of art with this first art center specializing in Sino-Italian cultural exchanges. In form and content. The building, located near the city of Chengdu, aims to showcase Chinese and Italian cultures, creating an intersection between East and West.
The overall concept was inspired by the "ruyi", an object used since ancient China as an auspicious gift given to foreign ambassadors to signify the conclusion of friendly relations and peace between the two countries. The Italian pavilion, meanwhile, draws on the arches and domes of Roman antiquity, as well as the iconic Italian piazza, with its fountains and amphitheaters. The harmony between architecture and nature is created by the use of natural resources and the protection of the environment. The omnipresence of white illuminates the circular and semicircular building, forming a multi-purpose space dedicated to the various sections (exhibitions, meetings, reception, catering). Large windows allow the interior and exterior to communicate, fully integrating the lush landscape. And close to the center is the Chinese Cultural Hall, hidden in a bamboo forest. Two paths, one made of Chinese white jade over a pond, link the two buildings, symbolizing the two Silk Roads between East and West, on land and water.
Arch-Exist Photography
Arch-Exist Photography
Nathalie Dassa
