Discover the concrete curves of Tadao Ando's He Art Museum

New photos of the newly constructed He Art Museum in Guangdong, China, by architect Tadao Ando, have just been released. Also known as HEM, the museum is made of stacked, staggered concrete discs that wrap around a pair of sweeping helical staircases. in its center. The project was commissioned by Midea Group CEO He Jianfeng, son of billionaire He Xiangjian, to house the He family's collection of contemporary Chinese art. Ando was inspired by the family name He, which means harmony, balance and unity. .

The discs that make up the structure cover an area of 16,000 m² and contain 8,000 m² of exhibition space, as well as a café and bookstore. The heart of the museum is its central courtyard, which houses the staircases. They spiral upwards, connecting the four stories and framing an oculus at the top that functions as a skylight. This oculus helps to maximize natural light within the exhibits and was incorporated by Ando as a reference to the ethereal use of light in churches. Inside, the concrete structure of the building is exposed, providing a minimalist, sculptural backdrop to the artworks. An external lagoon completes the museum. It was designed to reflect its façade and ensure thermal comfort in the summer months. HEM was originally scheduled to open in March 2020, shortly after Ando revealed images of the project. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the museum opened with a low-key launch in October.