The project is based on the most recognizable element of any comic - a white bubble with text. Eight such volumetric "clouds", located in a circle, form the building of the museum; their white walls can be brought to life by projecting text or images onto them. In one of the volumes there is a lobby, in others - halls of the permanent exhibition (with a spiral route of inspection) and temporary exhibitions, an educational center, three cinema halls (for a total of 1,111 spectators), a comic book library. The total area of the building will be 30,000 m2, its construction should begin next year.
The museum will become part of a large-scale Center for Comics and Animation: most of the Chinese enterprises in this sphere are concentrated in Hangzhou, and the new ensemble, including the museum, should emphasize its importance not only as an entertainment industry, but also as an art. The park will be adjacent to the MVRDV building; a significant part of it will be located on the islands of a nearby lake, the water of which will be purified by thickets of specially planted reeds. The Plaza will link the museum to an expo center primarily intended for the annual International Comics and Animation Festival (held in Hangzhou since 2005). In addition to the park and exhibition complex, which are part of the museum with a total area of 13.7 hectares, the Center will house office buildings, a hotel and a conference center.
N. F.
