A clay mountain, sculpted by fire and time, stands as a testament to a tradition that has climbed the annals of history—akin to the Chinese dragon kiln that has breathed life into the craft of pottery for over 600 years. This evocative interplay of heritage, craftsmanship and architecture manifests in the UCCA Clay Museum conceived by Kengo Kuma & Associates, the eponymous architecture firm of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.

Located in Yixing—China’s “ceramic capital”— the museum architecture is steeped in the city’s rich history of exquisite purple clay pottery, which dates back over a millennium. Once a bustling hub of ceramic production, the site accommodates pottery factories and ateliers that bore the marks of an artisanal legacy. While the nearby Shushan Mountain lends its silhouette to the museum’s sinuous form, the design harmonises with the adjacent Fangxi River and the remains of decommissioned factories. The cultural building aligns with a broader master plan to rejuvenate the region, preserving its ethnic remnants and reimagining its potential as a contemporary epicentre.

The layout of the 3,457 sqm cultural centre is a thoughtful interplay of connectivity and experiential flow. Beneath the mountain-like structure, arched entrances and glazed openings invite visitors into an expansive lobby that transitions adeptly into exhibition spaces, ateliers and a café at the ground level. These spaces are interspersed with arched walkways lined with bamboo canes, offering glimpses of the canal and adjacent industrial buildings. The integration of these pathways allows visitors to traverse beneath the public building while staying connected to the site’s layered history.

Kuma’s practice encounters a seamless dialogue between nature, materiality and place, where traditional craftsmanship converges with modern sensibilities to shape immersive spatial narratives. At the heart of this rendering lies the architectural pièce de résistance—the museum’s roof. This inverted shell structure, shaped by virtual spheres is a unifying element for the upper levels of the café and exhibition areas. Crafted from four intricately layered wooden lattice beams, the roof is both a sculptural marvel and a feat. Drawing the eye upward, “the light yet strong wooden structure brings dynamic changes to the interior space and draws the line of sight and circulation flow deeper into the building,” according to the official release. By exposing the timber lattice, the Japanese architect establishes a tangible link between the building’s form and function, further accentuating its material honesty.

“The façade, which evokes the “temperature” of pottery in the manufactory, was developed in collaboration with local artisans,” Kuma mentions in the press statement. The ceramic façade design is glazed in earthy gradients of brown, reflecting the colour transformations pottery undergoes during firing. This uneven and slightly coarse tactile surface exudes the warmth and authenticity of handcrafted Chinese tea-ware. The project’s grounded colour palette complements its mountainous form, melding with the natural and built surroundings.

Rooted in sustainable design principles, the public architecture incorporates remnant tiles from the façade to craft shallow water pools that serve as reflective surfaces, capturing light and framing the arched fenestrations. This thoughtful reuse of materials like wood and concrete in the construction enhances the space’s visual and environmental congruity. Collaborating with local artisans, the design celebrates traditional expertise while reinforcing the integration of sustainability with architectural heritage.

While the Industrial Revolution brought mass production to the forefront, it overshadowed the artistry of handcrafted work, thus the museum aims to rekindle the spirit of Yixing’s bespoke heritage. The project stands poised as more than an art repository—it is a living oeuvre that encapsulates the elusive warmth of workmanship and the grandeur of the city’s ceramic legacy. As a sculptural landmark rising from Yixing’s storied soil, the museum design is a tribute to architecture’s power to honour, preserve and elevate cultural heritage, making it a symbol of ceramic art and a reflection of the city’s identity.

Project Details

Name: UCCA Clay Museum
Location: Yixing, China
Architect: Kengo Kuma and Associates
Team: Yutaka Terasaki, Mengxian Bao, Qirui Liu, Yiwen Shen, Pan Luo, Xiaoshan Huang, Yoo Shiho (Graphic)
Construction: Jiangsu Hanjian Group
Area:3437 sqm
Year of Completion: 2024