Jingdezheng is one of the largest centers of porcelain production in China: it gained fame in the 11th century, and in the 14th century became "imperial" - porcelain was produced here for the needs of the court and for gifts to the ruler's close associates. Also, products from here were actively supplied to Europe. Production in Jingdezhen continues today, but only ruins remain of the Imperial kiln (more precisely, kilns) - partly because for high-quality firing a traditional kiln cannot be older than two or three years, then it loses its thermal properties and must be disassembled.
The Museum of the Imperial Kiln, designed by Studio Zhu-Pei, was built at the archaeological site next to it, the kiln, and the ruins. Remains of industrial buildings are also on the territory of the museum itself, some of them were found during the construction process. This largely determined the project: it is built on a combination of external and internal, connection with the "soil". Recessed courtyards occupy a significant part of the territory, and the museum itself is sunk compared to street level.
The complex is a series of brick vaults stretched parallel to each other: the shape and material are borrowed from the porcelain kilns. Most of the historical buildings in Jingdezhen were built from the bricks of these kilns: since they had to be dismantled often, the bricks were widely reused and generally played a large role in the life of the townspeople. For example, not so long ago schoolchildren in the winter put a brick heated in a furnace into their schoolbags, which gave them heat throughout the day.
The stoves were built from a minimum of material, covering the maximum area: hence their rather modern form, borrowed by the museum. Only in his case, the base of each vault is still concrete, lined with bricks from the inside and outside. Both bricks from disassembled kilns and new ones were used: such a mixture is the most typical for buildings in Jingdezhen.
Visitors enter the museum from the side of the archaeological zone, from the southwest. In front of the long front facade there is a mirrored reservoir, through which a path-bridge leads. Visitors find themselves in the lobby, next to which the usual functions are grouped: an audience, a cafe, a tea house, a bookstore. Further, among the courtyards and half-open vaults, there are closed vaults - with exhibition halls for permanent and temporary exhibitions. The museum administration also received its own vault - a corner vault from the south.
The authors of the project paid special attention to light: it penetrates inside through the glazed or open ends of the vaults, as well as through small rounded openings in the ceilings. To preserve this image even in the dark, the same lamps are placed next to it.
Separate mention should be made of staircases, passages, an amphitheater of the open part of the complex, where views of the surrounding city or the neighboring historical pavilion are thoughtfully framed.
Materials for publication are provided by v2com.
