designed by david chipperfield architects, the ?west bund museum? in shanghai has officially opened to the public. as previously reported, the institution will show a series of exhibitions in collaboration with paris? centre pompidou as part of a cultural collaboration between china and france. located on the shanghai corniche, an 8.5 kilometer (5 mile) frontage on the northern bank of the huangpu river, the new art gallery forms part of a larger cultural district for china?s biggest city.

image © simon menges
 
 
?the design of the west bund museum responds to the openness of the site as well as the surrounding development of a new cultural corridor along west bund,? explains david chipperfield, whose studios in berlin and shanghai led the project. ?the wilful act of twisting the three main exhibition halls breaks the conventional geometry and creates powerful interstitial public spaces. a wide esplanade opens onto the waterside promenade, offering an outdoor space for use by everyone.?  
the building consists of three main gallery volumes articulated around a central lobby ? a configuration that allows for different parts of the museum to operate independently. each of the three main volumes is 17 meters (56 ft) high, with an upper and lower level. the upper level of each volume contains a top-lit gallery, while the spaces on the lower level vary in function, housing a multipurpose hall, an art studio, and education spaces.

image © simon menges
 
 
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