Ningbo History Museum

The Ningbo History Museum was designed by Wang Shu of Amateur Architecture Studio, who is the first Chinese citizen to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize, which was awarded to him in 2012.  The museum is located in the city of Ningbo in Zhejiang Province, China, and was opened on December 5, 2008.  The building’s architecture draws its form from the mountains and the ships of the ocean, both having been integral to China and its culture for many hundreds of years.  The vast and imposing façade is covered in reclaimed tiles and bricks gathered from rubble in the surrounding area, physically connecting the museum to its setting.

The Jury Citation for the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize has glowing praise for the building, “The History Museum at Ningbo is one of those unique buildings that while striking in photos, is even more moving when experienced. The museum is an urban icon, a well-tuned repository for history and a setting where the visitor comes first. The richness of the spatial experience, both in the exterior and interior is remarkable. This building embodies strength, pragmatism and emotion all in one.”