# Aedas Designs Hangzhou Museum Inspired by 5,000-Year-Old Jade Artifacts The Yohoo Museum uses translucent emerald glass to reinterpret ancient Neolithic ritual symbols. - **Source:** [Yanko Design](https://brifing.si/source/41d28791-ef47-4e0b-a40a-2a5efca0c11b) - **Published:** 2026-10-21 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/63c90612-17f2-451e-bc5e-32d34e69c60b ## Breaking the Shoebox Convention Most museums function as sealed, light-deprived boxes to protect sensitive art. Aedas challenged this norm with the Yohoo Museum in Hangzhou, completed in 2024. By wrapping the 57,650-square-foot structure in translucent emerald glass, the architects created a glowing, light-filled environment that contrasts sharply with traditional, opaque gallery designs found in modern urban centers. ## Ancient Rituals as Geometry The museum’s form consists of two interlocking rings inspired by bi and cong jade artifacts from the 5,000-year-old Liangzhu culture. These Neolithic shapes represent heaven and earth, respectively. Aedas utilized these circular voids as light wells, physically framing the sky while grounding the building in the historical context of the surrounding archaeological site. ## Engineering the Emerald Glow Aedas developed a translucent multilayer laminate they call emerald glass to filter daylight into soft, even washes across interior galleries. The building relies on a single steel frame to support the complex, double-curved geometry. Parametric modeling played a critical role in keeping this intricate design efficient to construct while maintaining its signature aesthetic. ## Public Space and Connectivity The steel frame allows the building's edges to lift off the ground, creating sheltered public plazas beneath the structure. This design choice invites visitors to interact with the waterfront regardless of whether they enter the galleries. The museum connects to the Grand Canal, a 1,100-mile waterway, physically linking two distinct UNESCO World Heritage sites. ## Contextual Contrast in Hangzhou The museum sits on an artificial island, surrounded by a mix of modern apartment towers and industrial blocks. This dense urban backdrop actually enhances the building's visual impact, as the glowing, knot-like structure stands out against the repetitive high-rises. The approach via a zigzagging boardwalk allows visitors to experience various perspectives before reaching the entrance. ## Evolution of Local Architecture The Yuhang district already hosts significant cultural projects, including David Chipperfield’s 2008 Liangzhu Museum and Tadao Ando’s 2016 concrete center. While those earlier works treated heritage as heavy, permanent stone, Aedas shifted the narrative toward light and transparency. This evolution reflects a broader design trend of using modern materials to reinterpret ancient, solid artifacts. ## Technical Design and Awards The project’s innovative use of glass and geometry earned it Architectural Design of the Year and a Gold award in the Cultural category at the International Design Awards. By utilizing horizontal bands of greener, jade-toned glass at the entrance, the building’s color shifts dynamically, providing a unique visual experience from every viewing angle. ## Synthesis of Past and Future The Yohoo Museum successfully bridges the gap between Neolithic history and contemporary parametric architecture. By replacing the traditional stone materiality of jade with translucent glass, Aedas captures the essence of the ancient craft. The result is a functional, light-filled space that serves as a symbolic bridge between the city's trade history and its cultural future. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.yankodesign.com/2026/10/20/hangzhous-glowing-glass-museum-takes-its-cues-from-5000-year-old-jade/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hangzhous-glowing-glass-museum-takes-its-cues-from-5000-year-old-jade — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._