From the moment visitors enter the Nanning Museum, they are confronted with beautiful patterns and colour palettes inspired by the minorities of the area. Features of the museum include an archaeology tableau with tables and holographic displays, a folk song hall complete with its recording studio, permanent exhibitions to celebrate Nanning’s historical figures, scenes that show that city’s historical development from the Qin to Yuan dynasties,
a holographic installation of soldiers from Nong Zhi Gao’s army, a red pottery hall, as well as a restaurant, DIY studio, multifunctional hall, VIP lounge, and research facilities.

Prompted by Nanning’s nickname, ‘Green City’, the pointed museum structure takes the form of an almond tree leaf — the city tree — as well as referencing a phoenix feather, an important figure in local folklore. While it’s estimated that over 91% of the population in China belongs to the ethnic majority Han, there are 55 minorities in the country. Guangxi Province, in its southwestern location, is also home to the Zhuang, Yao, and Miao peoples. This unique blend of cultures makes Nanning a demonstration of China’s nuanced fabric. For a city that encompasses so many vibrant cultures, strong imagery and symbols were an integral part of the project’s design.

The main objectives of COO’s living museum concept were to be an inviting environment where members of the community could come together and explore their culture and history further, to be seamlessly integrated into the surrounding landscape, and to be adaptable to the modern Chinese lifestyle. This meant focusing on the visitor experience first and foremost, ensuring the design cues and content adopted the tone of a friend rather than a teacher, creating a program of activities and functions that would enrich the community, and nurturing individual visitors’ creativity with hands-on exhibits.

Although the location, nestled within the Yongjiang riverside and Qingxiu mountains, proved a challenge, there couldn’t have been a more appropriate setting in one of China’s most beautiful provinces. The Nanning Museum serves as a vital part of preserving and sharing the city’s multiethnic heritage and provides the city with a new and exciting platform for cultural exchange for years to come.