Shanghai-based studio Lacime Architects has completed The Wave gallery on the coast of Tianjin, China, which is clad in thousands of aluminum tiles and resembles a giant surge of water.
The Wave encompasses 3563 square meters and was designed by Lacime Architects for Shimao as a cultural hub within the Binhai New Area district.
The Wave's distinctive form is created from its Y-shaped second floor, which projects out from a two-story plinth that is surrounded by a shallow pool of water.
To achieve this while keeping the building column-free, its structure comprises a central concrete core enveloped by a complex network of steel trusses.
Here there are three water-curtain features and stainless steel detailing, which conceal the museum's stairs and elevators and are intended to offer "a quiet visual-tactile experience".
The museum's upper floor is also wrapped by large curtain walls that change in size with the undulating form of the building's exterior, spanning up to eight meters in height.
Lacime Architects introduced the curtain wall to maximize natural light and provide visitors with a sea view and connection to the outside, creating a stark contrast to the ground floor lobby.
As part of the project, Lacime Architects also created two pavilions and outdoor spaces that surround the museum. This includes seating areas, a children's play zone, and an outdoor theatre.
One of the pavilions is positioned in the sea, accessed via a boardwalk, to encourage visitors to sit and listen to the "sounds of nature".
