Snøhetta designs new Beijing Art Museum with petal-like volumes

Snøhetta, in collaboration with Beijing Institute of Architectural Design, has won the international competition to design the Beijing Art Museum in the city'sTongzhou District. 

The project will be Snøhetta’s second major cultural building in Beijing, following the completion of the Beijing City Library in 2024.

The museum is planned to have a gross floor area of approximately 1,000,000 square feet and will accommodate a wide range of artistic programmes, including fine art, contemporary art, fashion design, and exhibitions related to intangible cultural heritage. In addition to its exhibition spaces, the museum is intended to function as a civic destination, supporting public gatherings and contributing to the ongoing development of Tongzhou as Beijing’s designated sub-center.

The design proposal is organized around the concept of “vision,” which informs both the spatial layout and the visitor experience. The building is positioned above an existing metro line and is designed to integrate with public transport infrastructure, allowing the museum to also function as a transit-linked public hub. The scheme’s massing radiates from a central core, while the facades are articulated with layered, lens-like forms intended to mediate between interior spaces and the surrounding landscape.

At the center of the building, a large circular atrium connects galleries, storage areas, and support functions across multiple levels. Exhibition spaces are arranged around this central void, with extensions forming outward-facing volumes that provide views of the surrounding urban context. The surrounding landscape is conceived as a continuation of the architectural form, creating outdoor public spaces for sculpture displays and informal use.

Sustainability measures include rooftop photovoltaic panels and landscape strategies aligned with sponge city principles for stormwater management. 

Construction began on December 31, 2025, and the museum is scheduled to open in 2029.