- Project: Sunner Museum
- Architect: Atelier Alter Architects
- Location: China, Nanping City, Fujian Province
- Year: 2024
- Area: 6800 m2
A New Landmark of Ecological and Industrial Synergy in Fujian
The Sunner Museum by Atelier Alter Architects stands as a striking new cultural beacon in Guangze County, Nanping City, Fujian Province, China. Commissioned by Fujian Sunner Holding Co., Ltd., this 6,800 sqm museum is more than a tribute to the group’s four-decade legacy in modern agriculture—it’s an architectural statement in ecological design and industrial storytelling.
Set amidst the pristine landscape of the Wuyi Mountains, the museum is nestled within the Sunner Group’s factory complex, an area celebrated for its zero-emission circular farming system. The lush environment, crystal-clear Futun River, and mountainous terrain became direct inspiration for the project’s architectural language.
Reimagining Topography: Architecture as Landscape
Atelier Alter Architects approached the design with a clear philosophy: to blur the boundaries between architecture and nature. The museum’s silhouette is sculpted into three undulating green roofs that rise like hills from the ground, echoing the forms of the surrounding mountains. These curved planes form elevated courtyards and public terraces, offering panoramic views of the industrial site and its natural surroundings.
The project adopts the concept of “landform architecture”, where the roof itself becomes a habitable landscape. These fluid forms not only shape the museum’s profile but also manage circulation and climate responsiveness, integrating technical systems like drainage, insulation, and ventilation seamlessly into the topography.
Sustainable Design with a Sculptural Identity
The façade of Sunner Museum is crafted from folded concrete panels, reminiscent of retaining wall structures. These textured surfaces vary in scale—providing solidity at the base and transparency at public points with the inclusion of glass curtain walls. Gaps and cuts in the folds create dynamic patterns of light and shadow while also concealing ventilation louvers and facilitating water runoff.
At the museum’s core lies a vast 25-meter-tall column-free exhibition hall, supported by four silo-inspired shear walls. This central void allows for dramatic spatial volumes ideal for large-scale installations, all illuminated through a north-facing skylight that brings soft daylight to the interiors.
The sloped roofs are layered with thick soil and vegetation, enhancing thermal performance and blending the building into its environment—transforming it into a literal green hill. Functional systems, lighting, and mechanical components are hidden within the roof’s technical layer, ensuring visual coherence.
Architecture in Dialogue with Community and Climate
Designed in response to Fujian’s hot and humid subtropical climate, the building employs passive design strategies including thermal insulation, natural ventilation, and light modulation. The museum is open during the day to showcase innovations in agricultural science and, by night, becomes a public rooftop park—free and accessible to local residents.
This dual role—exhibition space and community platform—reflects the building’s broader mission: symbiosis between architecture, industry, and environment. The Sunner Museum doesn’t merely house exhibitions; it embodies the sustainable ethos of the Sunner Group.
A Model for Future Industrial Museums
With its seamless blend of architectural innovation, ecological integration, and industrial narrative, the Sunner Museum by Atelier Alter Architects sets a new benchmark for public buildings in rural and industrial contexts. It is not only a symbol of Sunner Group’s legacy, but also a blueprint for how future industrial spaces can coexist harmoniously with the landscape.
Photography © Highlite Images
