Designed by Rocco Design Architects, the iADC Design Museum is a formidable building and cultural landmark in the Shapu Art Town in Shenzhen’s Bao’an District. Within this cultural hub, and situated in a new neighbourhood, the Art and Design Museum becomes the anchor for Art Town and unifies the various studios, galleries, art schools and exhibition spaces.

The 12,900 square metre building is the central and cohesive focus for the area with a network of public spaces and walkways. There is a public plaza that spans the length of the site along with sunken courtyards that connect to the basement of the Museum and this area becomes a new neighbourhood centre linking Art Town Main street with the district.

The Museum is both heroic in stature and dominant in design with a façade that is articulated by a series of folds that peel away from the main structure.

The Museum is both heroic in stature and dominant in design with a façade that is articulated by a series of folds that peel away from the main structure to lift up the galleries and, as it nears the ground, to reveal the public plaza. In turn the facades fold away from the corner of the building to expose the entrance and a grand stairway up to the galleries inside.

The interior is split into two wings that encircle a central staircase – one wing displays Chinese art and the other contemporary design. Moving through the building the folding facades provide views of Art Town and also enhance the connection between the Museum and the surrounding district below.

This is a building that enhances its surrounds and provides a central point for residents and visitors. Embracing the arts, the iADC Design Museum is central to a flourishing artistic community and provides a gateway to design.

Rocco Design Architects is based in China with offices in Hong Kong and Shenzhen and has received multiple awards both locally and overseas. The ethos of the practice is a belief that architecture is the embodiment of culture, to embrace the past and address the future. Projects are many and varied and span the sectors of cultural and institutional, residential and interior to education, hotel and retail. Rocco Design Architects is also adept at producing master plans and large-scale projects that put its design firmly in the public realm.

Photography by Arch-Exist and Rocco Design Architects Associates

Embracing the arts, the iADC Design Museum is central to a flourishing artistic community and provides a gateway to design.