Quartet – Sunzhuan Museum in China by TEAM_BLDG: The Relationship Between Culture and Architecture

Quartet – Sunzhuan Museum in China by TEAM_BLDG is a notable cultural landmark located in the remote mountain village of Sunzhuan, Zhejiang Province, China. Completed in 2025, this project transforms a typical stone residence from the 1990s into a poetic dialogue between tradition and contemporary architecture — becoming China's first rural artificial museum dedicated to the theme of weaving.

Until recently, almost forgotten even by local residents, Sunzhuan has preserved its rural atmosphere thanks to its isolation. Now this 472 m² museum serves as a center for bold district reconstruction, merging collective memory with artistic architecture.

Preservation Through Contrast

TEAM_BLDG regarded the original building structure as a mismatch with surrounding clay houses. Instead of hiding this difference, architects emphasized it — dividing the volume into four interconnected sections arranged around internal courtyards.

The formal 'quartet' echoes rhythm, structure and fluidity, reflecting both weaving and music. This approach preserves the original contour but introduces spatial lightness and layered movement.

Living Facade Inspired by Weaving

An individual aluminum facade, made from red-stained slats on three sides and white on one, is a feature of the Quartet – Sunzhuan Museum in China by TEAM_BLDG. As lighting changes, the building shifts its appearance, creating a constantly evolving soft gradient from pink to white.

This delicate detail imitates key elements of textiles: threads and interlacing. The regular grid on the facade adds texture and vitality, lending a prematurely solid structure visual softness. It is a compelling interpretation of traditional craftsmanship through the lens of modern architecture.

Minimalism Inside to Highlight Art

Inside, minimalism defines the design so that art can speak for itself. The 'prologue' made from clay greets visitors in quiet half-light, then leads to a bright atrium. This heavenly space spans all three levels of the museum, visually connecting each exhibition area.

Natural light penetrates through a central shaft and carefully designed windows, creating a calm backdrop for contemplation. Internal materials are deliberately restrained — micro-polymer, treated surfaces and unadorned concrete — to preserve tactile warmth and visual modesty.

Dialogue Between Interior and Exterior

The original windows were reimagined to capture the landscape. At upper levels, window openings in staircase walls allow the third floor to function as a semi-enclosed observatory. The Rubai terrace offers a panoramic view of the Sunzhuan village, uniting art, architecture and nature.

Unified finishes and height variations gently guide movement, offering a meditative experience without explicit spatial division.

Individual Furniture Inspired by Weaving

Expanding the architectural narrative, TEAM_BLDG designed a series of unique furniture pieces for the café and gift shop. Named "Thread," these items reinterpret the construction of a loom using red textile straps interwoven around square steel frames. The same weaving technique seen on the facade is reflected here — symbolically uniting inside and outside into a whole.