Four staggered volumes shape Quartet-Songzhuang Z Museum
The Quartet – Songzhuang Z Museum, designed by TEAM_BLDG, repurposes a 1990s concrete house into China‘s first contemporary rural art museum dedicated to weaving. Positioned in the mountain village of Songzhuang, Zhejiang, within the landscape’s traditional rammed-earth homes, the museum’s design embraces the contrast with its surroundings while resonating with the rural village’s spirit. The building is composed of four vertically staggered volumes, creating a dynamic composition that serves as a ‘quartet’ of forms.
The design draws inspiration from traditional textile weaving, using red-and-white aluminum lattices to form a delicate facade that shifts in hue throughout the day. The aluminum square tubes, arranged to simulate the warp and weft of fabric, allow for a changing visual effect that shifts from translucent pink to ghostly white depending on the weather and time of day. This approach transforms the building’s mass into something lighter and more ephemeral, adding depth and texture to the structure.
Z museum is nestled in a 600-year-old ancient village | all images by Jonathan Leijonhufvud
TEAM_BLDG’s design draws from traditional Chinese weaving
Internally, the museum emphasizes clarity and connection between interior and exterior spaces. A ‘light well’ cuts through the building, providing natural light and warmth while connecting the three levels visually and physically. The architectural team at TEAM_BLDG organizes the layout of the exhibition halls around this central shaft, offering views of other visitors and of the surrounding landscape. Reconfigured window openings frame the views of the village, enabling interaction between the interior artwork and the external environment. The museum’s rooftop terrace offers panoramic views of Songzhuang, further blending the museum with the natural landscape.
The interior also features a custom ‘LOOM’ furniture series for the museum’s café and shop, inspired by traditional weaving forms. Constructed with red woven straps and square steel tube frames, these pieces echo the exterior latticework, continuing the theme of weaving throughout the interior design. The overall design balances contemporary architectural interventions with the preservation of the building’s original character, creating a space that resonates with both modernity and tradition.
the colors of each facade shift and transform with the changing light
four staggered volumes form the core of the museum’s composition
foliage of peach blossoms interacts with the weaved facade
