Models of 'Recent Architecture from China'
John Hill
1. October 2021
All photographs by John Hill/World-Architects
The latest exhibition by Martino Stierli, curator at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, is Reuse, Renew, Recycle: Recent Architecture from China, which focuses on the work of seven Chinese architects and "highlights their commitment to social and environmental sustainability."
According to MoMA, the exhibition "presents eight projects that speak to a multiplicity of architectural approaches — from the reuse of former industrial buildings, the recycling of building materials, and the reinterpretation of ancient construction techniques, to the economic rejuvenation of rural villages and entire regions." Standing out in the small exhibition that occupies a storefront gallery in the recently expanded MoMA are the models and other artifacts that, better than photographs, convey the concepts driving the bespoke, small-scale buildings that capture the essence of "a new generation of independent Chinese architects." Photos of the models on display follow.
Amateur Architecture Studio: Jinhua Ceramic Pavilion, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 2006.
Amateur Architecture Studio: Wencun Village, Fuyang district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 2016.
Atelier Deshaus: Long Museum West Bund, Shanghai, 2014.
Archi-Union Architects: Chi She, Shanghai, 2016.
Vector Architects: Alila Yangshuo Hotel, Guilin, Guangxi, 2017.
ZAO/standardarchitecture: Micro-Hutong, Beijing, 2013.
Studio Zhu-Pei: Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, 2020.
Studio Zhu-Pei: Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, 2020.
DnA_Design and Architecture: Bamboo Theater, HengKeng Village, Songyang, Zhejiang, 2015.
Reuse, Renew, Recycle: Recent Architecture from China was organized by Martino Stierli, The Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design, and Evangelos Kotsioris, Assistant Curator, Department of Architecture and Design. Curatorial advice was provided by Prof. Li Xiangning of Tongji University, Shanghai. The exhibition is located in MoMA's ground-floor gallery, so admission to it is free and does not require a timed ticket.