Herzog & de Meuron has unveiled its proposal for a linear museum complex in Hangzhou that will sit beside China's Grand Canal and celebrate the history of the artificial river.
It is the winning entry in a design competition for the Grand Canal Museum Complex, and will be built at the junction of the Hanggang River and south end of the Grand Canal ? the longest and oldest artificial river in the world that runs over 1,000 miles between Beijing and Hangzhou.
Once complete, the museum will be distinguished by its long, linear form and a rippling glass facade that is designed by Herzog & de Meuron to resemble water.

"Our proposal aims to reflect the Grand Canal's importance in Chinese cultural and natural landscapes, and to create a vibrant, contemporary gathering place at the Grand Canal," explained the Swiss architecture studio. "Inspired by the Grand Canal itself, our proposal starts with a significant line. This bold line, recalling an elegant Chinese brush stroke, houses the museum telling the story of the Grand Canal," it continued.
"The water and the museum face each other, creating a visual and material dialogue between the subject and its narrator. The museum is reflected in the water and the water in the museum's facade."

Surrounded by water on three sides, the Grand Canal Museum Complex will contain 50,000-square-metres of exhibition spaces split over two levels. It is designed so that each floor can operate independently.
The...