- Area:
13733 m²
Year:
2023
Text description from the architects. In the late 1970s, China shifted its focus to economic development, and Shenzhen became the first special economic zone. The China Merchants Group of Hong Kong took the lead in establishing the Shekou Industrial Zone in Shenzhen. They blasted the hilly terrain, drained the sea to build ports, and attracted foreign investment, becoming a pioneer of China’s reform and opening-up policy. The successful operation mechanism of the industrial zone became known as the “Shekou Model” and laid the foundation for China’s 40-year economic boom. The China Merchants Group, founded in 1872 in the late Qing Dynasty, experienced the ups and downs of the Republic period, and then the PRC decided to build the China Merchants History Museum on the seaside Weiboshan Hill in Shekou to mark its 150th anniversary.
Weiboshan was originally an unnamed hill in Shekou, later named after the construction of China’s first terrestrial microwave relay station at its summit. URBANUS was invited to design the China Merchants History Museum and proposed a concept of “the hill as the exhibition site and the city as the exhibition”, treating the entire Weiboshan Park as a unified spatial narrative. Starting from “Time Square” at the foot of the hill, this site symbolizes the beginning of China’s reform and opening-up policy as it was here that the “Shekou Mountain-Blasting” detonated. The monument in the center of the square is engraved with a famous quote by Yuan Geng, the leading representative of the construction of the industrial zone, who is considered to embody the spirit of Shenzhen: “Time is money, efficiency is life”. As you climb, the narrative walkway around the hill is engraved with significant events in the history of the reform and opening-up policy, resonating with the surrounding urban landscape and juxtaposing historical and contemporary scenes. This design creates multiple scenic nodes and integrates the climb into the exhibition experience. The climb culminates in the museum on the hill and simultaneously represents the climax of the exhibition narrative.
The design of the museum began with a study of the original site of the terrestrial microwave relay station. By comparing historical drawings and conducting on-site visits, the original structure of the station was identified within the existing buildings. By removing the additional walls added through several renovations, the original building was restored and the foundation reinforced, making it the museum’s most historically significant exhibit – a “ready-made” artifact.
The museum consists of five floors. The basement houses the main entrance, lobby, a small reception room and the main equipment room, as well as a multi-purpose hall that can be opened independently when the museum is closed. The first and second floors house a permanent exhibition centered around the restored railway station, presenting the 150-year history of the China Merchants Group. The third floor is an outdoor observation deck open to the public, connected to the climbing path. This floor houses a cafe/reception room for meetings and salons. Visitors can sit inside or outside and enjoy a 360-degree view of the Shekou Peninsula, experiencing Shekou in real time as an “urban exhibition hall.” The fourth floor houses a contemporary art gallery. Its floating structure houses a continuous, wraparound exhibition space for short-term themed exhibitions. The differently shaped windows on the various facades frame the surrounding natural and urban landscape, incorporating the changing urban landscape into the exhibition sequence. The roof is a spacious observation deck and the highest point of Weiboshan, providing a place for long-distance viewing and outdoor activities. In addition to the indoor exhibition paths, there are several outdoor public paths that allow visitors to climb the stairs even when the museum is closed. The comprehensive and multi-dimensional viewing experience enables the museum to meet various exhibition and event needs.
The museum’s facade is clad primarily in white travertine. As parts of the building are embedded in the hill, it appears as a natural extension of the landscape. The materials and craftsmanship inside meticulously reflect the industrial history of the China Merchants Group and include elements such as cast aluminum, steel, copper and concrete. The oversized entrance door is made of cast aluminum and the walls of key rooms are cast in concrete, which also includes industrial components as part of the aggregate.
The China Merchants History Museum is not an ordinary museum. It marks an important turning point in contemporary Chinese history and serves as a place to preserve and promote the spirit of reform and opening up. Our aim was to make this significant memorial building closely integrated into the daily lives of citizens and create a public space and urban memory that belongs to the present. People can climb the Weiboshan, look at the vast sky and sea, reminisce about history, look to the future, pay tribute to pioneers and inspire future generations. This hidden gem in the city is intended to become a landmark of Shenzhen’s urban spirit and a cultural anchor for the daily lives of its citizens.
