A Private Fish Maw Museum

The project is a private museum of dried fish maws (also known as swim bladders), which is located in Shantou City, China. The client has been interested in collecting aged fish maws for several decades. With a view to communicating the culture and value of fish maws, he entrusted JINGU PHOENIX SPACE PLANNING ORGANIZATION to create a neat space for displaying his collection.

The designers deconstructed the spatial functions via architectural languages, and adopted gray as the main hue, so as to highlight the gold aged fish maws that carry the memories of time. In addition, they utilized old oak timber and gave it sawtooth grain through special treatment. The aged texture and color of oak wood coincide with those of fish maws, which generates dialogue between the materials and the collection.

An arched door opening guides visitors to enter the interior space and start the journey of exploring fish maw culture. Opposite to the entrance is a fish-shaped iron art installation, which is handmade by artists and hung in the air, seeming to tell the history of fish maws. In the double-height hollow space, the original concrete beam is exposed and penetrated by a wooden strip that is embellished with bulbs, thereby enhancing structural aesthetic and functionality as well.

The first and second floors are connected by a staircase, which is formed by oak wood featuring sawtooth grain. There is a reception hall on 1F, in which all the furniture is made of oak wood, to ensure an austere texture within the space. At the other side of the first floor, a large glass door opens up the space for showcasing the client's collected fish maws, where an abstract painting themed on human and fish attracts visitors to immerse themselves in the display space.

The designers applied various straight and oblique structural shapes, to create the overall visiting circulation. The concave form of exhibits, the museum-like display, as well as rigorous lighting design, all help to accentuate the shape and texture of each piece of fish maw. As the natural light filtering into the space, the interior surfaces finished with white paint produce interplay of light and shadows.

The display and reception areas provide space for multiple people to communicate. Various combinations of furniture, as well as the bubble-like lamps that symbolize "the water of life", together create balance and artistic conception in the space, rendering it artistic and conformable.

Jingu Phoenix Space Planning Organization
Chief designer: Ye Hui
Design team: Chen Jian, Lin Weibin, Chen Xuexian
Decoration team: Feng Qi Wu Tong

Construction firm: Wan You Yin Li

Client: Mr. Zhuang