In the height of summer, as the sound of cicadas accompanies the rising sun, the first light of day gently pierces the night sky, casting a soft glow across the lake in Rizhao, Shandong Province, China. The flourishing landscape, bursting with life, draws visitors from far and wide, eager to experience its serene beauty. In recent years, Shandong Province has heightened its focus on ecological preservation, striving towards green, low-carbon, high-quality development. The province actively promotes the construction of artificial wetlands to purify water and soil, while adhering to sustainable development principles within its cultural and tourism sectors, painting a vivid picture of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. Today, a slender, white structure stretches across the man-made lake, its delicate and elegant form creating a striking contrast against the blue-green waters, yet subtly blending with the natural surroundings like ripples stirred by a gentle breeze—poetic and picturesque.

For Japanese architect Junya Ishigami, architecture should be an integral part of the landscape. His projects are always a reflection of the passage of time, capturing the changes in the surrounding environment and conveying the Japanese sense of beauty through architectural language for future generations. Challenging conventional perceptions of what an art museum should be, he moves away from the typical approach of simply placing a building beside the lake. Instead, he emphasizes the experience of the journey leading to the museum, gently placing the structure on the lake’s surface like a ribbon of silk quietly extending across the water. Its simple silhouette softly responds to the tranquil, ribbon-like water body, maintaining an intrinsic tension that gives it character.

The kilometer-long structure is supported by columns submerged in the water. From a side view, the flowing lines rise and fall with the water's surface and the slopes of the surrounding hills, at times smoothly emerging from the water, and at other times subtly nearing the lake’s surface, echoing the ripples stirred by the wind. Inside, there are no walls; instead, transparent glass curtains allow sunlight to flood the interior. The glass, seemingly growing from the lakebed, and the slightly curved concrete floor allow the lake water to enter, extending the ripples into the building and blurring the boundary between water and land. A new ecological ground emerges within, forging an inseparable connection between the museum and nature.

The linear structure of the building houses multiple functions, including exhibition halls, a visitor center, and a café, with the gradually progressing pathways subtly defining each area’s function. The slightly tilted roof on both sides captures views of the lake and surrounding forests, creating a dynamic visual experience as the roof rises and falls. Inside, the carefully placed greenery and exhibition areas resonate with the seasonal environment, emphasizing the connection with the surroundings. Junya Ishigami draws inspiration from the existing environmental conditions, thoughtfully considering how architecture can achieve a harmonious balance between artificial and natural landscapes.

Design Studio | junya.ishigami + associates @junya.ishigami_associates

Photography | Arch-Exist @archexist