Sunner Museum, architecture dancing with the Wuyi mountains
The Sunner Museum, designed by Atelier Alter Architects, is located within the Sunner Group complex in Guangze County, Nanping City, Fujian Province, at the foot of the Wuyi Mountains in China. It follows the contours of the surrounding mountains and blends harmoniously into the landscape.
The building is characterized by its curved concrete roofs, folded facades, and raised patios, creating a sculptural and organic atmosphere. Nestled in the vast Wuyi Mountains, which offer some of the most magnificent and pristine vistas in the province, this region is rich in forests and enjoys a remarkably pleasant ecological environment. The exceptional extent of the mountains and waterways within them inspired the museum’s design. Adopting the concept of “re-creating the mountain landscape,” the architects successfully integrated the building seamlessly into the site. Three gently sloping, slightly elevated curved roofs recreate the undulating appearance of the Wuyi Mountains, forming suspended green courtyards and pathways. The interlocking roofs ensure the independence of the interior spaces while allowing for fluid circulation. From the rooftop, pedestrians can enjoy panoramic views of the mountains, waterways, and industrial area.
The façade draws inspiration from the folded steel plates of retaining walls, using folded concrete slabs to create a unique texture. The folded surfaces vary in form and function: in the lower sections, they mimic stable retaining walls; in public spaces such as the entrance, they combine with glass curtain walls for greater interior transparency. The gaps in the folded surfaces bring in light and create perspectives, and the diagonal texture not only facilitates drainage but also cleverly conceals the ventilation grilles. The main exhibition hall is supported by four giant, silo-like shear walls, incorporating facilities such as the exhibition halls. The 25-meter-high vertical atrium makes the exhibition hall spacious and column-free, facilitating the presentation of large-scale installations. The north-facing glass roof brings soft light into the exhibition space.
To address Fujian’s hot and humid climate, the building features a sloping roof for rapid drainage and a thick layer of earth for thermal insulation. The lighting and functional layout are thoughtfully designed, and the building’s equipment is concealed beneath the roof’s technical layer, giving it the appearance of a verdant hill. By day, it showcases the achievements of modern agriculture; by night, it offers the public free access to the rooftop platform, thus blending into the lives of the citizens and brilliantly interpreting the concept of “symbiosis between architecture and environment.”
