The museum by Snøhetta will house collections spanning fine arts, intangible cultural heritage, fashion design, and contemporary art when it completes in 2029.
Snøhetta has unveiled its winning design for the Beijing Art Museum, developed in collaboration with Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD). Located in Tongzhou District, the 110,000-square-metre cultural institution is set to open in 2029.
This marks Snøhettas second major cultural project in Beijing, following the Beijing Library, which opened in 2023. Construction began on 31 December 2025.
The proposal centres on the concept of “vision,” positioning the museum as a space where observation itself becomes art. Radiating from a central atrium, the buildings sculptural volumes extend outward like petals, their rippled, lens-like facades dissolving the boundary between architecture and landscape.
Built above a metro line, the museum functions as both cultural destination and transportation hub. Its kaleidoscopic atrium serves as the gravitational core, surrounded by semi-open exhibition pockets spiralling across multiple levels. Galleries and storage spaces wrap around this central void, terminating in volumes that offer panoramic views of the surrounding district.
“The museum is envisioned not merely as a custodian of culture but as a catalyst that elevates viewing into an aesthetic experience,” said the design team.
The landscape design extends the buildings radiating geometry into generous public spaces for sculptures and outdoor engagement. Sustainability features include photovoltaic panels on the roof and water management systems aligned with sponge city principles.
