Completed in 2008, the Ningbo Museum was built from recycled materials, including debris from nearby towns and villages that had been destroyed to make way for modern developments. Scroll through Amateur Architecture Studio projects, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fiwan.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">photographed by Iwan Baan</a>.
Ningbo Historic Museum, Ningbo, China —
Completed in 2008, the Ningbo Museum was built from recycled materials, including debris from nearby towns and villages that had been destroyed to make way for modern developments. Scroll through Amateur Architecture Studio projects, photographed by Iwan Baan.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
The museum's design was influenced by both the surrounding nature and Ningbo's history. The building was partly inspired by the East China Sea, which Ningbo has long relied on for trade and commerce.
Ningbo Historic Museum, Ningbo, China —
The museum's design was influenced by both the surrounding nature and Ningbo's history. The building was partly inspired by the East China Sea, which Ningbo has long relied on for trade and commerce.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
Amateur Architecture Studio often incorporates traditional Chinese building methods into their work. For the Ningbo Museum they used a technique called wa pan, that allows solid structures to be built from tiles of different shapes and sizes.
Ningbo Historic Museum, Ningbo, China —
Amateur Architecture Studio often incorporates traditional Chinese building methods into their work. For the Ningbo Museum they used a technique called wa pan, that allows solid structures to be built from tiles of different shapes and sizes.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
"The surroundings, to some extent, are more important than the architecture alone," Wang says. "So architecture should fall under the landscape, not the other way around."
Ningbo Historic Museum, Ningbo, China —
"The surroundings, to some extent, are more important than the architecture alone," Wang says. "So architecture should fall under the landscape, not the other way around."
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
Shortly after winning the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2012, architect Wang Shu and his firm Amateur Architecture Studio were invited to design this cultural complex in Fuyang, Anhui province.
Fuyang Cultural Complex, Fuyang, China —
Shortly after winning the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2012, architect Wang Shu and his firm Amateur Architecture Studio were invited to design this cultural complex in Fuyang, Anhui province.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
The roof of the complex was designed to blend with the mountain scenery around it. Fuyang is renowned for its mountains, which has often been featured in traditional Chinese paintings.
Fuyang Cultural Complex, Fuyang, China —
The roof of the complex was designed to blend with the mountain scenery around it. Fuyang is renowned for its mountains, which has often been featured in traditional Chinese paintings.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
Amateur Architecture Studio visited a number of villages in the area to better understand the surroundings. As well as using bricks and tiles, the firm incorporated natural materials like stone and bamboo in his design.
Fuyang Cultural Complex, Fuyang, China —
Amateur Architecture Studio visited a number of villages in the area to better understand the surroundings. As well as using bricks and tiles, the firm incorporated natural materials like stone and bamboo in his design.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
Combining heritage with modernism, Amateur Architecture Studio renovated the historic Zhongshan Road in his home city of Hangzhou.
Zhongshan Road Project, Hangzhou, China —
Combining heritage with modernism, Amateur Architecture Studio renovated the historic Zhongshan Road in his home city of Hangzhou.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
The guest house was built on a campus of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, where both Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu are architecture professors.
Wa Shan Guesthouse, Xiangshan, China —
The guest house was built on a campus of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, where both Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu are architecture professors.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
With a name translating as "Tile Mountain," Wa Shan is set across three levels and over 50,000 square feet of floor space.
Wa Shan Guesthouse, Xiangshan, China —
With a name translating as "Tile Mountain," Wa Shan is set across three levels and over 50,000 square feet of floor space.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
The building is surrounded by hills and trees, with a river flowing close by. Viewed from certain angles, the structure appears as if itself were composed of hills.
Wa Shan Guesthouse, Xiangshan, China —
The building is surrounded by hills and trees, with a river flowing close by. Viewed from certain angles, the structure appears as if itself were composed of hills.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
"In an area, there is not only architecture, but also water, trees, mountains and rocks," Wang said. "The entire group, for Chinese people, is architecture. The geometric objects we call architecture are only part of it -- a small part," says Wang.
Wa Shan Guesthouse, Xiangshan, China —
"In an area, there is not only architecture, but also water, trees, mountains and rocks," Wang said. "The entire group, for Chinese people, is architecture. The geometric objects we call architecture are only part of it -- a small part," says Wang.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
The guest house was built using natural materials like wood, stone and bamboo. Additionally, the structure's walls were made using 'rammed earth,' a sustainable building technique that uses compressed natural materials instead of bricks and mortar.
Wa Shan Guesthouse, Xiangshan, China —
The guest house was built using natural materials like wood, stone and bamboo. Additionally, the structure's walls were made using 'rammed earth,' a sustainable building technique that uses compressed natural materials instead of bricks and mortar.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
Wang's wife and business partner, Lu Wenyu, is also a professor of architecture at the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou.
New Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China —
Wang's wife and business partner, Lu Wenyu, is also a professor of architecture at the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
Like many of Amateur Architecture Studio's buildings, the Academy's curved roof is designed to resemble the lines found in nature.
New Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China —
Like many of Amateur Architecture Studio's buildings, the Academy's curved roof is designed to resemble the lines found in nature.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
Wang has taught at the academy since 2000, during which time he has designed a number of the institution's buildings.
New Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China —
Wang has taught at the academy since 2000, during which time he has designed a number of the institution's buildings.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
"China is renowned for its super engineering projects -- giant projects," says the firm. "But these projects usually are harmful to nature. We propose more 'natural' architecture." Photographs taken by Iwan Baan will feature in the new book <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lars-mueller-publishers.com%2Fwang-shu-amateur-architecture-studio" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Wang Shu Amateur Architecture Studio" </a>by Lars Müller publishers.
New Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China —
"China is renowned for its super engineering projects -- giant projects," says the firm. "But these projects usually are harmful to nature. We propose more 'natural' architecture." Photographs taken by Iwan Baan will feature in the new book "Wang Shu Amateur Architecture Studio" by Lars Müller publishers.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan
Displayed at the Venice Architecture Biennale, this wooden installation was designed as an amalgam of Western and Eastern influences. The dome's shape draws on European architectural traditions, but the construction techniques and materials were inspired by traditional Chinese buildings. For more photos by Iwan Baan, head to his <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fiwanbaan1" target="_blank" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fiwanbaan%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.
Decay of a Dome, Venice Biennale, Italy —
Displayed at the Venice Architecture Biennale, this wooden installation was designed as an amalgam of Western and Eastern influences. The dome's shape draws on European architectural traditions, but the construction techniques and materials were inspired by traditional Chinese buildings. For more photos by Iwan Baan, head to his Facebook and Instagram.
Image: Courtesy Iwan Baan