Z Museum by TEAM_BLDG Reimagines Rural Cultural Infrastructure

While traditional rammed-earth houses have weathered centuries unchanged in the mountains of Zhejiang Province, China, a striking aluminum lattice building presents itself among the landscape. The Z Museum in Songzhuang Village, designed by TEAM_BLDG, sits over 400 meters above sea level, nestled deep within the mountains. Here, 20mm x 40mm aluminum tubes become the warp and weft of a monumental fabric, each element painted red on three sides and white on one.

Minimalist kitchen with light wood cabinetry, white countertops, two green bar stools, and a linear ceiling light. Red wood accents and a potted plant are visible. Natural light enters through a small window.

Visitors begin in an adjacent rammed-earth structure, experiencing a “prologue hall” that preserves the village’s traditional spatial character. The transition into the main building becomes a journey through material time – from earth to aluminum, and shadow to the central light well that vertically connects all three floors. This vertical atrium functions as both practical circulation device and poetic gesture, allowing natural light to weave through the building’s core much as shuttle passes through warp threads.

View through a red rectangular frame and railing, showing traditional buildings with tiled roofs in the background.

The architects dissected the original monolithic structure into four interconnected volumes, creating a quartet of forms. The architects kept the rooftop terrace deliberately minimal – uniform materials and absent functional zoning allow visitors to fully experience nature and relaxation. This restraint transforms the building’s crown into a contemplative viewing platform, positioning the museum as lens through which to perceive the landscape.

Courtyard of a rustic house with mud walls, slate floor, wooden beams, a built-in stone bench, a small red table, and an open window facing a garden area.

A large window frames a view of a white interior wall with geometric cut-outs; an orange construction hoist and cable are visible at the top.

Tall white-walled interior with rectangular cutouts and natural light casting shadows through a grid-like window above.

A view of tiled rooftops through a rectangular window at the end of a minimalist beige staircase with a round wall light.

A minimalist hallway with brown walls, a reflective glass panel, and an open doorway leading to a bright room with cream-colored walls and a gray floor.

A person walks through a bright doorway in a rustic room with textured walls, slate floor, large windows, and a suspended red structure.

There was special attention paid to the treatment of interior-exterior boundaries. Original window openings were reconfigured in response to the surrounding landscape, creating a secondary framing. This strategy allows curated views of village life to dialogue with displayed artworks, dissolving the traditional separation between museum and context. The building becomes a viewing apparatus, framing the village as it would an exhibited textile.

A modern pink and red rectangular building with vertical slats rises above traditional dark-tiled rooftops surrounded by trees and a stone wall.

A rooftop terrace with red flooring, red metal railings, a spiral staircase, two small round tables, and views of a hillside town in the background.

Aerial view of a traditional village with dark-tiled roofs and narrow canal, featuring one modern, light-colored building standing out among the older structures.

For more information, visit team-bldg.com.

Photography by Jonathan Leijonhufvud.

Leo Lei translates his passion for minimalism into his daily-updated blog Leibal. In addition, you can find uniquely designed minimalist objects and furniture at the Leibal Store.