M WOODS, the Beijing Art Community Renovation Project

The project site is located in Qianliang Hutong, Longfusi Street, an old downtown area within the Second Ring in Beijing, China. Adjacent to famous urban landmarks such as Jingshan Park and the National Art Museum of China, Longfu Temple built during the Ming Dynasty, was a prosperous area where the commercial environment was combined with artistic activities until it suffered a fire incident in 1993. Subsequently, the area lost its vitality due to the development of other adjacent areas

The building being renovated was originally the staff canteen of the Longfusi region. Its structure is simple and the interior space is quite open, very suitable for an art museum project. Starting with the idea of blending modern elements into the historic district of Hutong, B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio has created a project combining localisation and experimentation

In the new project the building space is divided into four parts: exhibition space, a roof terrace for relaxation and for temporary events, a cafeteria on the first floor and a basement. The exhibition space is divided into two areas - above and below ground. It is further divided into galleries differentiated by area, height (from 2.2 to 7 metres) and floor material. These characteristics are useful for exhibiting different types of works with different specifications and together make the overall spatial experience of visiting the museum a very unique one

Through labyrinthine pathways and special environments achieved by maintaining the original materials, soft lighting and low temperature, the architecture of B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio induces a contemplative and concentrated atmosphere, which is separated from the noise and stimuli of urban life. This is amplified by the lack of signal for the telecommunications network within the exhibition halls

As an independent, non-profit art institution, M WOODS has strict cost control for the renovation project. Instead of choosing ordinary facade materials, B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio discovered a new material: galvanised steel sheet, and used it to create the original façade structure's infills in the form of handcrafted folded sheets with a truly original look. Galvanised steel has excellent corrosion resistance and a unique surface structure as well as being fairly inexpensive, and is usually used for ventilation systems and ducts