Museum features more than 5,000 kinds of precious shells

by Jonathan McGaha | April 30, 2010 12:00 am

Completed in June 2009, the Dalian Shell Museum was one of Dalian, China’s key high-end construction projects. The museum has more than 5,000 kinds of precious shells from all over the world on display inside.

The architects, The Design Institute of Civil Engineering & Architecture of DUT, Dalian, fittingly aligned the exterior structure with the theme of the inside exhibits, using Hunter Douglas QuadroClad Metal Façade Panels from Hunter Douglas Building Products, Beijing, China, to create an overlapping roof that resembles an oversized shell. The material projects the natural flowing curves the architect envisioned, while also demonstrating the customizable nature of Hunter Douglas’ curved products.

The approximately 193,757-square-foot (18,000-m2) museum has four floors above ground and one floor underground. The wide picture windows inside the museum’s lounge allow views of the beautiful landscape. From inside, the glazed wall looks transparent; from the outside, it reflects the environment so effectively that the building seamlessly glides into blue sky and green sea, appearing as a series of “shells.”

Hunter Douglas Building Products, www.hunterdouglascontract.com

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/projects/museum-features-more-than-5-000-kinds-of-precious-shells/