national maritime museum of china by COX architecture opens in tianjin

COX architecture was awarded the project in 2013 after winning an eight-month iterative design competition process involving multiple stages of client and stakeholder feedback. the accomplished construction comprises a series of interconnect pavilions that cantilever out over the water in a ‘ fan-like ’ geological formation from a central reception anteroom. this cardinal space is both for transition and exhibition and provides access to the upper of the two exhibition levels. the design evolved from a watercolor painting by philip cox, founding partner of COX architecture. ‘ from philip cyclooxygenase ’ s initial watercolor sketches, the invention evolved and sealed compelling metaphors either resolved or emerged — jumping carp, corals, starfish, moor ships in port and an open decoration reaching out from chinaware to the nautical world, ’ says the invention team. ‘ without resorting to actual apery, some are more obviously expressed, such as in the geometric blueprint and textures of the facing, besides functionally designed to shed heavy snow loads during harsh winters typical in this part of taiwan. ’ during the project’s development, both physical and digital modelling was carried out to test the building structure and its detailing. ‘ revit, rhinoceros, and BIM played a huge role in coordinating and delivering this project, ’ the architects explain. ‘ it resulted in the biggest digital model we ’ ve ever worked with. the solution includes elephantine seismic portals, each resting on massive ball joints that are designed to move when there ’ mho seismic disturbance in the landscape. ’ world power for the build up is predominantly sourced from the anchor using geothermal energy. ‘the national maritime museum of china is justified in its ‘landmark’ status. it is a remarkable building borne of a remarkable process,’ comments brendan gaffney, national director for COX. ‘ it is a project that ’ randomness wholly at dwelling on the ball-shaped phase. it is testament to the committedness of our open-minded and collaborative client and to our team, whose talent and doggedness in equal measure ensured this building stayed true to its sight in every possible detail. ’ see other recently published computer architecture projects in china on designboom here.

project info: name: national nautical museum of china
location: tianjin, china
project size: 80,000 sqm
site size: 150,000 sqm
completion date: 2019
building levels: 3

architect: COX architecture
COX team: attend burbot, alex leese, jack carroll, ashley beckett, jayson blight, jaegeun lim, alex munoz, michael bailey, philip cyclooxygenase, leu fifty-one, leon mcbride, troy rafton, james ryan, mitchell page, julian farrell, andrew butler, belinda williamson, david reasbeck, ayo akinola, marker sierzcula, perry gustafson, kim huat tan, spyros barberis, megan mckenzie, gary mcfeat, william grey, michael rayner, adrian taylor, roger mai, joseph hartley, karen appleyard, matthew napper, brendan gaffney, katy roberts, katie holzberger, score hadfield, maxie navius, jaclyn sunlight, casey vallance, marianella picon, robert callanan, martin hayes, tae won kang, solomon romion, brendan kenny, vesna lazarevic, steve hunter, thomas nelson, james sia, tracey maree, akiko spencer, joachim clauss, tim morgan, brett miles, tommy moth miller, anya meng client: national nautical museum preparatory office chinese government and tianjin municipality
local design institute partner: tianjin architecture and design institute ( TADI )
key consultants: arup, overlord cultural resources, urbantect
photography: terrence zhang