An Abandoned Building Just Became China's Most Reflective Museum - Yanko Design

"Sometimes the best architecture happens when designers refuse to accept what's been left behind. The Hangzhou Empathy Museum, completed in 2025 by TAOA, is one of those rare projects that transforms architectural leftovers into something genuinely captivating. What started as an abandoned community project in Hangzhou's Xiaoshan District has become a striking contemporary art space that seems to hover above the ground."

"The museum's exterior is its boldest statement. TAOA wrapped the structure in wave-like stainless steel and anodized aluminum panels that create this hypnotic, continuous curve around the building. It's the kind of facade that changes throughout the day as light hits it from different angles, turning reflections into part of the architectural experience. The transparent curved panels don't just look beautiful, they give the building its own visual rhythm that sets it apart from the typical boxy structures you'd expect in a residential neighborhood."

"At just 1,628 square meters total, with only 570 square meters above ground, this isn't a sprawling cultural complex. It's intentionally compact, which actually works in its favor. The smaller footprint means every space has to earn its place, and architect Tao Lei's team made that constraint part of the design philosophy. Instead of spreading out horizontally, the museum digs down with two basement levels dedicated to exhibition space while the upper floors handle reception areas and more intimate gathering spots."

"What makes this project particularly interesting is how it solves the problem most underground galleries face: the dungeon effect. Nobody wants to view art in a windowless concrete box that feels disconnected from the outside world. TAOA created a vertical void that cuts through the building, tapering as it moves up through each floor. This central opening brings natural light down into those basement galleries, so even when you're two floors below street level, you're not complete"

The Hangzhou Empathy Museum in Xiaoshan District was completed in 2025 by TAOA. The compact 1,628 square meter building has only 570 square meters above ground and includes two basement exhibition levels. TAOA wrapped the exterior in wave-like stainless steel and anodized aluminum panels that produce a continuous, curving facade with changing reflections. The transparent curved panels establish a visual rhythm distinct from neighboring boxy structures. The museum prioritizes vertical organization, using a central tapered void that brings natural light down to underground galleries. Upper floors accommodate reception and intimate gathering areas. The scheme converts an abandoned community project into a hovering contemporary art space.

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