He Art Museum

The He Art Museum, otherwise known as HEM, is made from a stack of staggered, concrete disks that wrap around a pair of sweeping helical staircases at its centre. The heart of the museum is its central courtyard, which houses the staircases. These spiral upwards to connect all four floors and frame an oculus at the top that functions as a skylight. Inside, the concrete structure of the building is exposed throughout the museum, providing a minimal and sculptural backdrop to the artwork. A pond outside completes the scheme and is designed to reflect its facade while creating a cooling effect in summer months. (Foshan, China)