Building That Looks Like Termite Mounds

The building with a strange name "50%Cloud", incorporates red brick architectural features designed by Luo Xu. This unusual structure is built on red soil completely composed of local red bricks without a single steel bar or nail. The clear benefit of using locally available materials is that the building blends into nature effortlessly. The building looks like a huge art installation with its strange roof design undulates in the sky. It looks almost like a giant termite mound from a distance. Some of its unique architectural features include curved contours and variety of spatial volumes set at staggering heights. 

The interior space extends the natural curves of the exteriors, characterized by large-span arches and lofty ceilings. Round openings are carved out on roofs to let natural daylight into the interior of the building. The interplay of daylight and cloud shadows throughout the day produces a surreal ambience inside this building and thus creates diversified spatial experiences. Almost every corners of this building are Instagram worthy.

Interior landscape further enlivens the dining atmosphere of the restaurant inside. Natural light casts onto rough bricks, softened by interior lighting and tasteful selection of furnishings, all these elements together producing an environment that encourages guests to interact with the space. The overall interior design is a multi-sensory spatial experience.

这座建筑有个很奇怪的名字叫“ 50％Cloud”，全红砖建筑给它增添了特色。这类不寻常的红砖结构毫无需要一根钢筋或钉子。利用本地材料明显的好处是，该建筑很容易的融入周围大自然。该建筑的特征在于该屋顶的独特设计在天空中起伏。从远处看起来几乎就像是一座巨大的白蚁丘。它的一些独特建筑特色包括弯曲的墙和各种不同高度设置的空间。 

内部空间延伸了外部的自然曲线，其特点是大跨度的拱形和高耸的天花板。屋顶上刻有圆形天窗，可让自然光进入建筑物里面。阳光和云影之间的互动使建筑物室内产生了超现实的气氛，从而创造了多样化的空间体验。这座建筑几乎每个角落都充满美丽的拍照空间。

室内景观提升了内部餐厅的用餐气氛。自然光投射在粗糙的砖块上，并通过室内灯光和雅致的家具布置的柔和反应，所有这些元素共同营造出一种鼓励客人与空间互动的环境。整体室内设计给出了丰富的多感官空间体验。

Penang Art District

The Penang State Government has identified a 9.2 acres of PDC and state land situated off Gat Lebuh McCallum and Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, a mere 500 metres away from the original proposed site. With a much larger land area without the limitations of existing buildings and structures, the new site provides greater flexibility and new possibilities for the Penang Arts District. 

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng told a press conference today with advisor for Penang Arts Division Datuk Dr Tan Chee Kuan and general manager of PDC Datuk Rosli Jaafar. The Penang Arts District will also drive the revitalisation of the McCallum area, catalysing urban renewal in an area adjacent to the Georgetown UNESCO heritage zone, creating more employment opportunities for Penangites and greater value-added service industry. 

Media Statement by Y.A.B Tuan Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister on 22 June 2016 in Komtar, George Town, Penang PENANG ARTS DISTRICT’S CALL FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION APPLICANTS As an initiative to catalyse the economic impact of the creative industry in Penang, The Penang State Government has envisioned Penang Arts District to be the creative hub of Penang’s contemporary arts and culture. Originally, the Penang State Government was to embark on a project to regenerate and revitalise Sia Boey into the Penang Arts District as previously announced. However, Sia Boey was later identified as a likely site to be transformed into a transportation hub for the planned Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Mass Rail Transit (MRT) interchange under the Penang Transport Master Plan. As a result, due to the likely uncertainty as well as the likely construction period of as much as 10 years, the state has decided that the Penang Arts District will be better served at an alternative location. The Penang State Government has identified a 9.2 acres piece of PDC and state land situated off Gat Lebuh McCallum and Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, a mere 500 metres away from the original proposed site. With a much larger land area without the limitations of existing buildings and structures, the new site provides greater flexibility and new possibilities for the Penang Arts District. 

The new site can cater to the single largest collection of art galleries and cultural museums, creative boutiques, arts schools and workshops in Malaysia. We would of course not forget to populate the scene with hip cafes and trendy restaurants serving local and international cuisines to further enhance Penang’s reputation as the food capital of the region. We are confident that the Penang Arts District will become a must-visit arts destination of Southeast Asia. 

The Penang Arts District will also drive the revitalisation of the McCallum area, catalysing urban renewal in an area adjacent to the Georgetown UNESCO heritage zone, creating more employment opportunities for Penangites and greater value-added services industry. To support the setting up of Penang Arts District, we have appointed Dato’ Dr Tan Chee Khuan as an advisor for this project. Dato’ Dr Tan is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Penang State Art Gallery Committee and a prominent art collector, historian and writer. He has one of the largest private art collections in the state and frequently donates his collections to the Penang State Museum and Art Gallery for the public. I am certain that Dato’ Dr Tan will be able to guide and lead the state in ensuring the success of the Penang Arts District. 

The Penang Arts District team under Penang Conventions & Exhibitions Board (PCEB) has envisioned the venue to incorporate an 80,000 square feet container city and a 3-acre landscaped park. Such container cities have been successfully developed in Christchurch, Seoul, Dubai and Buenos Aires. (Pictures are included in the media kit.) They are quick to build and can be artistically composed and easily reconfigured. They will also reflect Penang’s heritage as an important shipping port. 

As we move forward, we are now excited to call for a Pre-Qualification proposal and submissions this exciting project. Designers, architects and contractors who are interested in participating in this landmark project may download the Pre-Qualification documents online via Penang Arts District’s website, www.penangartsdistrict.com. The project is expected to cost up to RM30 million. There will also be a compulsory briefing and site visit for interested participants on 30 June 2016. The deadline for submission is 23 August 2016. Shortlisted bidders from the Pre-Qualification exercise will then be requested to take part in a design and build tender exercise expected in September 2016. In the meantime, the Penang Arts District team will be running engagement programmes to get in touch with the relevant stakeholders of this project. We invite those who have fascinating proposals, or are interested in a space at the arts district, to contact the team. We look forward to receiving interesting conceptual ideas for the design and build of Penang Arts District. This marks for exciting times ahead as we embark on a journey in transforming Penang into a truly international and most liveable city in the world. LIM GUAN ENG Chief Minister of Penang 

This is indeed an overdue project as Penang has a large pool of artistic talent who have been active in their works behind the limelight. Their presence are elusive due to lack of venue to promote their, not to mention the less enthusiastic public. 

With a venue like the proposed Penang Art District, artists will finally have a proper platform to showcase their works while the public will find it convenient to appreciate art right at their backyard. This project is indeed the music to the ear of the art community in Penang.

Minsheng Contemporary Art Museum

In China, the country’s largest public contemporary art space has opened inside a renovated electronics factory dating from the 1980s. designed by Studio Pei Zhu, the Minsheng Contemporary Art Museum exists in contrast to standardized ‘white cube’ galleries, configured as a diverse series of exhibition spaces. In reusing an existing building, the design team sought to incorporate the rough industrial characteristics of the former factory with exposed textures and surfaces.

Internally, gallery typologies include spaces of different sizes and dimensions, classified as: big box, middle box, small box, classic space, courtyard exhibition space, and black box (multi-function performance, convention, exhibition spaces). Each area is organized as an organic extension of a welcoming double-height reception foyer, which includes staircase seating.

Staircases have double functions - circulation @ seating areas.

The reflective metal cladding give the Minsheng Contemporary Art Museum its futuristic look.

 

Various spatial volumes create interesting gallery spaces.

Source: designboom

Singapore's ArtScience Museum

The surreal ArtScience Museum by Moshe Safdie with Singapore's vibrant skyline in the background.