Büro Ole Scheeren has unveiled the design for the Róng Museum of Art, a major new cultural institution set to open in Shenzhen in 2027. Commissioned by Tenova Future, the project reflects a growing convergence between digital innovation and contemporary cultural production, positioning the museum as a landmark within the city’s evolving urban landscape.
A museum embedded in a hybrid urban ecosystem
Róng Museum of Art, designed by Büro Ole Scheeren, is envisioned as a new cultural landmark dedicated to the visual and digital culture of today. Commissioned by Tenova Future, a private venture of Tencent’s founder, the museum embodies the idea of symbiosis between technology and culture.
Situated in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District within the Houhai Hybrid Campus, the project integrates residential, commercial, and hospitality functions into a continuous 24-hour environment. As a result, the museum operates not only as an exhibition space but also as a civic anchor within a broader mixed-use development. Moreover, this positioning underscores how cultural infrastructure increasingly plays a central role in shaping tech-driven urban centers.
Parametric design and environmental performance
The museum’s architecture is defined by a series of cone-shaped volumes wrapped in suspended glass tubes, engineered through parametric design processes. Consequently, the façade forms a translucent layer that filters daylight while referencing historical uses of glass in Chinese architecture.
These tubes serve multiple environmental functions, including shading, natural ventilation, and rainwater collection. Therefore, the building aligns with Shenzhen’s “sponge city” sustainability strategy, which emphasizes water management and ecological resilience. By day, the system diffuses light into the galleries, while at night, illuminated tubes transform the structure into a glowing presence within the skyline.
Public space and cultural interaction
The structure is composed of five sculptural pavilions that expand upward, elevating the main galleries above ground level. As a result, a shaded, naturally ventilated plaza emerges below, designed to host temporary installations, screenings, and public events. In this way, the ground plane becomes an ակտիվ forum that encourages informal cultural encounters.
Above, the gallery sequence includes flexible exhibition spaces, including a double-height volume for large-scale works. In addition, a مسیر-like stair wraps along the exterior, guiding visitors toward a rooftop garden that extends the campus landscape. A meandering stair along the building’s outer facade leads to a rooftop garden, which acts as an elevated exterior events platform with expansive views across the Shenzhen waterfront. The design is intended to function as an “art forum” accessible 24 hours a day, fostering cultural encounters through temporary installations and public events.
Ultimately, the Róng Museum of Art exemplifies how architecture can mediate between technology, ecology, and public life. As Shenzhen continues to expand its cultural footprint, the project reinforces the city’s emergence as a global hub where innovation and artistic expression intersect.