Guangzhou has welcomed a new cultural landmark: the Architecture Model Museum, the first institution in the Greater Bay Area dedicated to architectural models and spatial culture.
Earth: Sunlight Seaside Forest Park/Image via Architecture Model Museum
Located on the third floor of the Design Hall in Guangzhou Design City, the museum spans over 2,100 square meters.
It offers a walkable archive of architectural imagination—from Lingnan vernacular forms to global experimental structures.
Density: Suqian Ancient Drainage System Museum/Image via Architecture Model Museum
The collection features over 300 models, drawings, and installations, many of which are handcrafted by renowned architects.
These works trace the evolution of built form across concept, construction, and cultural context.
Monument: China Pavilion at Expo 2010/Image via Architecture Model Museum
The inaugural exhibition adopts ‘MODELS’ as its curatorial framework, with each letter unfolding a thematic zone:
M – Monument: Civic icons like the China Pavilion at Expo 2010 and the Yinxu Museum
O – Oasis: Nature-architecture symbiosis, exemplified by the Shenzhen Jianke Building
D – Density: Urban compression through prototypes like the Bamboo Tube House
E – Earth: Rural revitalization via projects such as the Tonglu Capsule Library
L – Link: A rotating space for dialogue, forums, and thematic showcases
S – South: Lingnan-rooted innovation, including the School for Hong Kong Resident Children and Zhuhai Church
South: Shunde Yunlu Wetland Museum/Image via Architecture Model Museum
Beyond static display, the museum integrates digital interpretation and interactive installations.
Visitors can scan QR codes for layered insights, explore immersive zones like Li Xinggang’s ‘Settlement Chair’, and engage with tactile models that invite participation.
Curated by Shanghai Fengyuzhu Culture Science and Technology Co., Ltd. and designed by Yuan Plan Studio, the museum was architecturally led by Professor He Jingtang and supported by a 14-member academic committee, including Song Chunhua and other leading figures.
During its soft launch, the museum drew architecture students, families, and design professionals—some lingering for hours, others returning for repeat visits.
Baiyun District, home to over 1,200 creative enterprises and recipient of the ‘World Green Design Capital’ title in 2025, initiated the ambitious project of Guangzhou Design City.
As a vital part of this project, the museum positions itself as both a public education platform and a cross-disciplinary incubator.
Beyond showcase of the miniature buildings, it is a space for architectural dialogue, regional storytelling, and spatial experimentation.
[All images via Architecture Model Museum]
0 User Comments