Architectural gems Changjiang Museum + Cuadra San Cristóbal

Bright daylight

The architects have made the most of the natural light so that the rooms hardly need any lighting during the day. A spiral staircase surrounding a light source gives the building an extra dimension.

Changjiang

ART MUSEUM

Vector Architects designed this impressive art museum in Changjiang, a municipality in China’s northern province of Shanxi. Its rapid urbanization in 2016 entirely disrupted the lives of its inhabitants. The museum has both cultural

and public functions to meet the community’s needs. The stairs along the building lead to the public outdoor terrace. A pedestrian bridge leads to the northern part of the building.

Emotional architecture

Barragán believed that buildings that focus on functionality are too cold and sterile. He moved away from that approach and set emotional impact first as the goal of his designs.

Cuadra San Cristóbal

This is probably the first time you’ve ever seen such a colorful and stylish ranch. When the Swedish Egerstorm family asked Mexican architect Luis Barragán to design a house with stables, he came up with this spectacular design. He used both minimalist and modernist influences in geometric shapes with bright colors and organic materials. Today, the building provides accommodation for temporary art exhibitions.