Chongqing's new Industrial Museum bridges the Chinese city's past and future
Emerging architecture practice WallaceLiu has completed its latest project, the Chongqing Industrial Museum, which comprises the transformation of an abandoned factory in China into a cultural landmark for the growing city

When the Chongqing Iron and Steel plant was inaugurated in the Chinese city in 1938, it represented an important highlight in both local pride and country-wide industrial strength (so much so, that it was visited and celebrated by Chairman Mao in the 1950s). However, as times changed and the city grew, the large scale site became defunct and abandoned, leaving a considerable chunk of town in neglect, as the complex, which originally was in the city's outskirts, now slowly became a central part of town as Chongqing's sprawl expanded in the 21st century. So, the city soon started looking into ideas to redevelop the site, while somehow maintaining its historical significance.
Enter emerging architecture practice WallaceLiu, headed by Jee Liu and Jamie Wallace, who were based in China at the time and now have relocated to London. The firm were appointed to transform the important industrial site into a new 7,500 sq m museum that highlights the steelworks' cultural, social and industrial history and is part of a larger redevelopment of the old factory campus. The project's scale was considerable, but the young studio responded with flair by taking the plunge and researching the city's heritage while exploring efficient ways to approach both materials and building techniques.
‘By working with adaptive re-use our design is about rearranging and reframing what is there, and in the case of the museum, accentuating the visual and spatial experience to purposefully make it more dramatic and more complex,' says Wallace. ‘Breaking down the exhibition journey into a series of spaces that travel through the existing structures and around the open public foundation hall invites visitors to explore and observe the existing features whilst completing their composed exhibition narrative.'
The result is a striking complex where old parts have been maintained, lovingly restored and highlighted, yet sit comfortably and in harmony with new elements that bring the museum to the 21st century. The architects kept the scale and grandeur of the original structures, while clearing it from hazardous parts and polishing the interior to make it suitable for display purposes.
The new structure creates a flowing indoors/outdoors relationship, while the new exhibition halls are lifted up and a trajectory is created through different halls and bridges across the site. A permeable, lightweight steel structure in carefully selected hues wraps around the building, uniting the whole. Inside, a central atrium hall, including cloakrooms, toilet facilities, bookshop and a projection room, becomes the heart of the visitor experience.
‘The materials and colours we chose, and the aesthetics of the large perforated metal curtains supported by tall truss-like structures, come from observations on site, and our intentional compositions with the ruin like post-industrial context,' says Liu. ‘We wanted to create a dynamic composition, layered edges, and the possibility of wandering. This allows the existing features of the old factory to play a foreground.'
INFORMATION
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture Editor at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018) and Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020).
-
Last chance to see: Sharjah Biennial 15, ‘Thinking Historically in the Present’
Built on the vision of late curator Okwui Enwezor, the Sharjah Biennial 15: ‘Thinking Historically in the Present’ offers a critical reframing of postcolonial narratives through major new commissions
By Amah-Rose Abrams • Published
-
For London Gallery Weekend 2023, the mood is hardcore
With London Gallery Weekend 2023 almost upon us (2 – 4 June), here’s our list of must-see art exhibitions
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith • Published
-
Birkenstock celebrates its most memorable styles with colourful capsule (and matching socks)
Birkenstock marks the 40th, 50th and 60th anniversaries of the Gizeh, Arizona and Madrid sandals, respectively, with limited-edition versions
By Jack Moss • Published
-
The Museum of Amazonian Science offers global hope and sustainability
An environmentalist’s ambitious project includes the Museum of Amazonian Science in Brazil and fulfils his vision of powering up the local bioeconomy and saving humanity
By Scott Mitchem • Published
-
The Boatyard Hotel in Suzhou embraces the surrounding landscape
GOA and WJ Studio’s Boatyard Hotel in China takes its design cues from the nearby river
By Hannah Silver • Published
-
A9a architects creates community driven timber market in Zhengzhou
Pulo Market by A9a architects injects soul into a commercial building in China's Zhengzhou
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts extension by Neri & Hu draws on urban monuments
The Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts extension by Neri & Hu brings together culture and retail in a sculptural terracotta-coloured structure
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Ma Yansong on global architecture and MAD’s year ahead
We talk to MAD’s Ma Yansong about his thriving studio, global architecture and the year ahead
By Magali Robathan • Published
-
At home with Neri & Hu
Architectural super-pair Neri & Hu talk to us about what inspires them, what they are reading, and how they switch off
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Sydney Modern opens its doors and reveals immersive SANAA architecture
SANAA’s Sydney Modern opens its doors to the public in Australia
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Refreshed Gainsborough House in Suffolk gears up for reopening
Thomas Gainsborough House in Suffolk reopens to a design by architecture studio ZMMA
By Ellie Stathaki • Published