While in separate buildings, these two facets of the museum park are linked by the exploration of what glass can do. Since opening in 2011, the collection of artworks and design pieces belonging to the museum has steadily grown, and the Design Wing is a space that can swiftly adapt to the evolving design landscape in glass, representing the possibilities that glass offers.

Exquisite pieces from Pia Wüstenberg, Formafantasma, Nendo, the Campana Brothers, and more are available to view in this permanent collection. The curated variety demonstrates the breadth of the material’s properties. Renowned architect Tadao Ando, whose glasswork is also on display in the Design Wing, sums up this unique medium beautifully: “During a time when human warmth is being lost, a material such a glass, in itself cold, preserves, through its hand‑manufacturing, its warmth.”

Design Wing displays the glass pieces within two floors. While an extension of the Shanghai Museum of Glass, the two buildings are a stark contrast, complementing each other like night and day. Both are streamlined and minimalistic. However, the Main Hall is dark and withdrawn, made for a deep-dive exploration of the glass world that looks inward. The Design Wing, on the other hand, utilises sunlight to let the design pieces reveal themselves fully like art on canvas. Large windows and light walls maximise the natural light, and mirrors lining select sides of the interior create an effect of fathomless space.

Though the majority of the space resembles a minimalist and clean studio, there are surprises at every turn. Visitors are suddenly greeted with a mind-bending art installation when ascending the central staircase. Cleverly placed neon lights and mirrors play on the words “Whatever you think, think the opposite,” and “What is essential is invisible to the eye” in English as well as their Chinese adaptations. More than a place to walk through and see incredible designs, the Design Wing gives visitors to pause for thought about what they are experiencing.

The Design Wing is designed to be a destination for creatives who look for inspiration. Like art, the design has a desire to communicate, and the expressions of glass are endless. The Design Wing is an essential addition to the campus for those looking to continue a creative journey through glass.