Beijing architecture: CAFA Museum

The Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum, situated on the north-eastern corner of the CAFA campus in Wangjing, might be lacking in the fancy, futuristic designs of its neighbour, Wangjing Soho (for completion 2014), but its simplicity is exactly what sets it apart.

Construction began in 2005, and the building was officially opened in October 2008. The man behind the design is Arata Isozaki, a renowned Japanese architect with a scattering of distinguished museums, concert halls and arenas around the world with his name on them, including the Barcelona Olympic Stadium. 

His design for the CAFAM is neither complex or ostentatious; instead its burly curves makes it look, at certain angles, like a steely-strong version of Noah's Ark; or, from another angle, the curves of a penguin, two 'wings' flaring out of its long body.

The building is supposed to resemble a boomerang, or an obtuse 'L', according to the concept behind the design.  The exterior is a densely arranged mosaic of blue-grey and algae-green tiles, infused with dashes of rusty celadon. The result is as contemporary as it is traditional –with shades resembling the traditional Ming courtyard colours of old Beijing as well as modern steel.

The winged sides house the building's entrance – nestled into the inner bend of the boomerang. Made of glass, this is one of a few of the only points where natural sunlight can flow in, along with thin slices cut across the high, vaulted ceiling.

The CAFA museum, Arata's first Beijing design, is a complete overhaul - a bigger and bolder version of the old CAFA museum at the humble 5 Xiaowei Hutong in Wangfujing, which was built in the 50s and remains open today (Monday - Friday). The new museum, on the institute's new campus, off the east corner of the 4th ring road, covers an area of 14,777 sqm, with a floor area of 3,546 sqm. The interior is whitewash-minimalist, with a fluid, open floor plan that makes the shape of the building so hard to pinpoint.

There are six levels altogether; four of these above ground. The interior is mostly dedicated to exhibition spaces, with the first floor housing a lecture theatre, cafeteria and museum shop. The top two levels are huge, with ample room for large exhibitions and grand scale pieces.