“What art does — maybe what it does most completely — is tell us, make us feel that what we think we know, we don’t. There are whole worlds around us that we’ve never glimpsed.” Greil Marcus — Tuesday August 30th — —

I love listening. It is one of the only spaces where you can be still and moved at the same time. — Nayyirah Waheed — Tuesday August 30th — —

The idea is to die young as late as possible. — Ashley Montagu — Tuesday August 30th — —

BMW Museum Beijing

As shared by dezeen two days ago, we are very impressed by the second BMW Museum, which will be opening its doors very soon in Beijing, China. Beijing- and Frankfurt-based firm Crossboundaries’ design for the gallery space on the third and fourth flour of the BMW building brings forth the exclusiveness of the cars while it references the Chinese aesthetic heritage in an innovative but elegant way.

The museum exhibition starts on the third floor of the newly built building in the Chinese capital; entering through an grande, almost two floors high and bright area, which houses the reception zone, whose vertical surfaces are accentuated with horizontal lighting strips interpreting the motion of speed. Subsequently the visitor is being absorbed into a lower, more transitional lounge which was created as a cozy touch. The key feature in the design of the space are the hite, light and slightly transparent fabric banners are hung from the open ceiling on this floor. While the fabric’s verticality reduces the high ceiling to a more human scale, the vast amount of white textile surfaces indicates generority and the “Chinese red gate” as backdrop transmits an imperial feeling. The horizontal lighting strips continue into the main exhibition area and information walls, with integrated screens for multimedia presentations at the perimeter walls of the space. Projections can be also screened on to fabric banners in the middle of the space where seating areas are provided around the exhibition pieces, which adds up to a very impressive exhibition space, if you ask us.

Combining references to the old within a contemporary aesthetic, we can only hope for more interior design like this as this is what the future should look like…

When going onto the fourth floor a different experience was created by Crossboundaries. Walking up a centered freestanding staircase, the visitor accesses the second exhibition floor and arrives at the front of two long car display platforms. Having more cars to show on this floor, a key feature here is the car display. The space is structured by several long platforms out of white back painted glass surfaces with integrated stainless steel strips and edges. Similar to the third floor, the metal lines mimic the lighting strips on the walls and the information walls reappear on the perimeter of the space. The ceiling of stainless steel mirrors the elevated platforms, allowing the space to appear higher and more spacious. The special lighting for illumination of the cars is also integrated here. Parallel to each other, the platforms offer the visitor a clear route through the history of cars and more interaction. A movie theater, game room and an exhibition display for smaller items round off the experience. They are located at the end of the exhibition area, where natural light leads you towards the elevators.

Founded in 2005 and organized as an international partnership, architectural design firm Crossboundaries has staff originating from and trained in Asia, Europe and North America. They provide unique spatial solutions deriving from local cultural knowledge and transnational expertise. All the creations of Crossboundaries originate from a strong belief that design as a process results in successful, operational buildings. This approach is based on two fundamental principles: research and collaboration. This approach has been proven successful for projects ranging from automotive production to childcare facilities and cultural complexes.

Photography by Yang Chao Ying.

For more work by Crossboundaries see here

Expect all information on the new museum here