- Area: 29612 m²
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Photographs:logon | urban.architecture.design
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Manufacturers: Saflex
Text description provided by the architects. Located in Shanghai’s Baoshan District, this former glass manufacturing site covers a total area of 29,612sqm including thirty existing buildings varying in age and scale. logon developed the entire 20 year strategic development plan renaming the site to G+ Glass Theme Park (Glass, Art, Research and Technology Park). Phase one includes the Shanghai Museum of Glass and a hot glass show covering a total site area of 5,785sqm.
The decision was made to design a glass museum in phase one. As the site location is not well known due to the projects’ inconvenient location, a ‘Loss Leader’ status for the first phase was decided.
This business concept was chosen as the entire site needed a way to build brand awareness of the site and value of the surrounding land; at the same time add value to the Baoshan district and community, thus the Shanghai Glass of Museum concept was realized. Following phases of G+ Glass Theme Park include; a sculpture yard in phase two, a science park in phase three and a business park in phase four all supported by commercial facilities planned to be complete by 2018.
The Shanghai Museum of Glass is one of the only glass museums in China; but this is not what makes it unique. After the logon lab developed the G+ Glass Theme Park development strategy, a key project positioning decision was made; to develop phase one into a ‘Type Two’ multifunctional glass museum. Type Two museums differ from regular (Type One) museums as in this case where the site is not located downtown or near convenient public transportation for easy access.
People are happy to visit a regular museum for short periods of time due to convenience; however, it would be challenging to expect someone invest over two hours by car or bus to visit a museum for only an hour. Another key feature of type two museums is that they are multifunctional; they must provide enough activities and entertainment to attract people to spend at least two hours or longer. In addition to its glass themed exhibition, the Shanghai Museum of Glass does this through its’ hot glass shows, DIY workshops, lectures, libraries, and other interactive activities all designed to attract and educate a variety of target groups creating value and incentive for people to visit.
The Shanghai Museum of Glass multifunctional design combines exhibitions with hot glass shows, DIY workshops, lectures, libraries, restaurants, coffees, events, shops, public space and so on. Its’ sustainable adaptive reuse design and modern feel incorporate old and new ideas making it the first of its’ kind in China. The Entrance Plaza is the face of the museum enabling immediate recognition and recall for visitors where it guides people into the museum, hot glass show and surrounding areas. The new entrance building stands on the Entrance Plaza acting as a welcoming platform for the museum.
Contrasting the dark facade with the bright lobby interior creates a unique first impression for visitors to the museum. The facade is made from U shaped glass imported from Germany, sand blasted and enameled to reveal transparent glass-related words in various languages. Behind the glass facade is a LED backlight that allows light to glow through each word on its black background; the final effect is breathtaking by night. The Shanghai Museum of Glass will educate and entertain thousands of visitors whilst adding value to the local district government and people for years to come.
