The UCCA Clay Museum is conceived as a new cultural landmark in Yixing, a city renowned as the “ceramic capital” of China, famous for its distinctive purple clay pottery. Situated on a site historically central to the region’s ceramic production—with numerous former ateliers and factories—the project is part of a broader masterplan aimed at revitalizing the area as a contemporary hub for ceramic arts. The museum integrates exhibition spaces, active workshops, and artist studios, while thoughtfully preserving the industrial heritage of the site.
Architecturally, the building’s massing is inspired by Shushan Mountain, a nearby natural formation celebrated by Northern Song dynasty poet Su Dongpo, and by the ancient form of the dragon kiln—an elongated, sloped kiln used for over six centuries. The resulting mountain-like volume establishes a strong sculptural presence, pierced at key points to align with the axis of a former pottery factory and an adjacent canal, thereby weaving the new structure into the existing spatial and cultural fabric.
The roof—an inverted shell structure shaped by the imprint of virtual spheres—is supported by four layers of interwoven wooden lattice beams. This construction not only provides structural strength but also lends the interior a sense of lightness and fluidity, guiding visual and physical movement deeper into the museum.
The façade, developed in close collaboration with local artisans, draws from the tactile and thermal qualities of handcrafted ceramics. Clad in ceramic panels with irregular surfaces and gradient glazes, the exterior shifts in appearance with changes in light and season. Warm and subtly textured like traditional Chinese teaware, the materiality of the envelope embodies the millennia-old heritage of ceramic craftsmanship in Yixing.
