Shanghai’s Largest Art Gallery Is Built on a Former Shipping Yard — Because of Course It Is
Shanghai is known as a city where bigger is better and nothing is off limits, at least architecturally speaking. This has allowed a proliferation of striking designs, from office towers to residential projects to many of the country’s best museums.
The latest addition to that list is the Long Museum West Bund, the second space dedicated to showcasing the collection of Chinese billionaire Liu Yiqian.
Built around a former shipping wharf and underground parking garage, it was the largest private art museum in the country when it opened in 2014.
With frequently changing temporary exhibitions, plus an impressive permanent collection, the space is dedicated to displaying historical and contemporary works from around China.
Shanghai-based Atelier Deshaus conceived the structure, whose sweeping concrete vaulted ceilings and subtle use of natural light up Shanghai’s architectural ante yet again.
