Framed by Vision: Shaping the Evolving Urban Landscape

Snøhetta, in collaboration with Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD), has won the competition to design the Beijing Art Museum in Tongzhou District, Beijing.

This landmark project will mark Snøhetta’s second major cultural institution in the Chinese capital, following the internationally acclaimed Beijing Library, which opened in 2023.

Spanning over 110,000 square meters, the new art museum will showcase a diverse range of art forms – from fine arts and intangible cultural heritage to fashion design and contemporary art. By bridging historical traditions and modern creativity, the art museum is poised to become a new beacon for Beijing’s thriving art and cultural scene. Beyond its role as a cultural hub, the art museum will also serve as a civic gathering place for the local community and a catalyst for the new urban development in the area.

The design proposal adopts the concept of “vision,” manifesting the dual ambition of the museum: to collect and gather, and to exhibit and reveal. It is envisioned not merely as a custodian and connoisseur of culture and knowledge, but as a catalyst that elevates the act of viewing into an aesthetic experience—transforming observation into art. This concept orchestrates a multidimensional dialogue, bridging the abstract and the tangible: connecting artists with audiences, history with the future, architecture with landscape, individuals with communities, and cities with the world. The museum becomes a living nexus where ideas intersect and perspectives converge, fostering a continuum of creativity and interpretation. The Beijing Art Museum is a crucible of pluralistic expression and perceptual diversity—a place where countless visions coexist and flourish. The idea of “vision” aspires to embrace this richness, like an ocean gathering the tributaries of thought and imagination.

Positioned above a metro line, the museum doubles as a transportation hub, linking visitors to the art world. Its sculptural massing radiates outwards from a central core, while lens-like, rippled facades dissolve boundaries between building and landscape, establishing a dynamic public realm that engages the local community. The design harmonizes programmatic complexity and the diverse user experiences, ensuring flexibility and inclusivity.

Beijing Art Museum Atrium sky Image by Proloog

At the heart of the museum lies a kaleidoscopic atrium that acts as a gravitational pull, drawing various program elements inward. This circular space features semi-open pockets for exhibitions and social interaction across multiple levels, creating vertical connectivity and spatial continuity throughout the building. Galleries, storage, and support functions spiral around the atrium, extending into petal-like volumes that offer panoramic views of the surrounding context, juxtaposing the experience of looking out with a sense of being seen.

The landscape design, conceived as an organic extension of the building’s radiating architectural language, unfolds into generous civic realms that invite sculptures, dialogues and outdoor engagement. It is not merely an adjunct but a spatial continuum—where architecture, landscape, and interior coalesce into a unified cultural tapestry. Through this synergy, the Beijing Art Museum transcends its physical boundaries, projecting its presence and resonance into the urban fabric and beyond. It becomes a place of convergence—connecting people, ideas, and experiences—while celebrating the continuum of time across past, present, and future.

Beijing Art Museum Atrium sky Image by Snøhetta

The Beijing Art Museum integrates sustainability at its core, featuring photovoltaic panels on the roof and a resilient landscape design that incorporates water management strategies aligned with sponge city principles—creating a harmonious balance between architecture and ecology.

The Beijing Art Museum broke ground on December 31, 2025 and is estimated to open in 2029.

Beijing Art Museum
Year: 2025 –
Status: ongoing
Location: Beijing
Size: 118,861 sqm
Client: Beijing Fine Art Academy
Construction Management: Beijing Investment Group Co.,Ltd.
Concept and Schematic Design: Snøhetta, BIAD
Construction Design: BIAD
Scope: Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Architecture
Typology: Museum & Gallery, Public Space, Destination, Education & Research
Images: Proloog, Snøhetta