Junya Ishigami’s Zaishui Art Museum: Redefining Architecture Once Again

Japanese architectural prodigy Junya Ishigami has once again redefined the boundaries of architecture with the Zaishui Art Museum. Arguably the longest museum in the world, this groundbreaking structure takes its scale directly from the surrounding natural landscape.

Balancing between what Junya Ishigami calls the “relentless diminutive nature of architecture” and the monumental vastness of China’s landscape posed a formidable challenge. “Buildings that stand in isolation in China often appear lonely, as if they had been cast into an infinite terrain,” the architect explains. In response, his design for the Zaishui Art Museum does not seek to dominate its natural surroundings. Instead, it embraces the landscape with uncompromising fluidity. The elongated structure aligns more closely with the lake and shoreline than with any conventional architectural typology, pushing the limits of our imagination.

Zaishui Art Museum, Rizhao, Provinz Shandong, China, Junya Ishigami
Stretching over one kilometer in length, the Zaishui Art Museum in the bustling eastern Chinese city of Rizhao is a seamless extension of its environment.

“The key lies in seeing architecture as a ‘gentle giant’ and seeking an entirely new relationship between nature and humanity.”
– Junya Ishigami + Associates

The museum winds organically through the water, at times becoming part of the landscape itself. “The key to addressing the landscape challenge in China is to envision architecture as a ‘gentle giant’ and to redefine the relationship between nature and humanity,” Ishigami explains.

Blurring the Boundaries Between Nature and Humanity

As the first development in a newly planned urban district in Rizhao, Shandong Province, the museum serves as an exhibition space, visitor center, and shopping hub all in one. It is a cultural anchor and vital infrastructure, fostering interaction among future residents.

Zaishui Art Museum, Rizhao, Provinz Shandong, China, Junya Ishigami

Opened in 2024, the 20,000-square-meter structure is supported by 300 pillars anchored in the lake’s two-meter-deep waters. Its fully glazed façade stretches across its entire length, creating a sense of weightlessness and transparency. During warmer months, the glass panels can be opened, dissolving the boundary between interior and exterior while allowing for natural ventilation.

At certain points, openings at the base of the glazing allow water to flow inside, forming artificial inlets in the museum’s floor. Rather than creating a stark division between architecture and nature, the structure invites nature inside, fostering a seamless dialogue between the built and natural environments.

Zaishui Art Museum, Rizhao, Provinz Shandong, China, Junya Ishigami

“The landscape extends into the museum, forming a harmonious relationship with the natural surroundings. This is the ultimate goal of the project.”
– Junya Ishigami + Associates

Zaishui Art Museum, Rizhao, Provinz Shandong, China, Junya Ishigami

A Walk on Water

The Zaishui Art Museum offers a promenade-like experience shaped by varying spatial perceptions. Visitors may find themselves in an expansive exhibition hall with a solid floor beneath their feet, only to transition to a narrower pathway surrounded entirely by water. In one moment, high ceilings bathe the space in natural light; in another, the ceiling lowers, allowing the water’s reflections to dance upon it.

“A long piece of architecture, scaled to match the vast landscape, appears to glide across the lake like a gust of wind.”
– Junya Ishigami + Associates

Through these spatial transitions, Ishigami transforms the museum into an immersive experience—one akin to wandering through nature. There are no shortcuts to reach different sections of the building. Visitors must traverse it on foot, moving at the same pace as if strolling along the shoreline.

Zaishui Art Museum, Rizhao, Provinz Shandong, China, Junya Ishigami

Master of Emptiness

Ishigami is no stranger to pushing the boundaries of architectural thought. His work on the plaza at the Kanagawa Institute of Technology outside Tokyo redefined public space, cementing his reputation as the “master of emptiness.” The 51-year-old has already received numerous accolades, including the Golden Lion for the Japanese Pavilion at the 2008 Venice Architecture Biennale.

Zaishui Art Museum, Rizhao, Provinz Shandong, China, Junya Ishigami

With the Zaishui Art Museum—equal in length to the lake it traverses—Ishigami may have created the longest museum in the world. Yet, unlike the conventional pursuit of architectural records in height or scale, this project is not about breaking limits for the sake of it. Instead, it offers an encounter with nature on equal footing, providing a space for contemplation and deceleration in an increasingly fast-paced world.

Text: Gertraud Gerst
Fotos: arch-exist, Junya Ishigami + Associates