The Douban Museum By CSWADI: Sustainable Architecture in Chengdu, China

Located in Ande Town within the fertile Dujiangyan irrigation area, the Douban Museum by CSWADI harmoniously blends modern exhibition design with the ecological and cultural heritage of Western Sichuan. The site, surrounded by woodlands, bamboo clusters, and traditional farmhouses, reflects the organic texture of the Linpan agricultural landscape, where local farming practices coexist with modern sauce production. Protecting this delicate ecology formed the core principle guiding the museum’s architectural strategy.

To preserve existing flora, all trees with DBH over 20 cm and clumping bamboo were carefully marked for conservation. The museum’s design wraps around these natural features, creating a “house amidst bamboo” experience. By situating most functional areas underground, only one-third of the building volume, including the lobby and exhibition halls, rises above ground. This low-impact massing maintains a building height under 15 meters, allowing surrounding metasequoias to visually dominate the roofline, creating a seamless integration with nature.

The roof design reinterprets the traditional Chengdu Plain pitched roofs, known for their deep cantilevers and slender eaves. The main roof adopts an elliptical, bean-like curve following the site’s north-south slope, while secondary northern and southern roofs respond to sunken courtyards and the terrain. Inspired by the color transitions of drying chili peppers: from green to red to black: the roof employs a palette of red (30%), deep red (36%), dark green (14%), and dark gray (20%), blending naturally with the environment.

Structurally, glulam beams replace traditional timber “Chuandou” frames, while bamboo-wood strips form the roof sheathing and fascia, balancing tradition with modern performance standards. Double-curved steel ring beams on steel columns allow large spans while optimizing timber’s mechanical properties. This combination highlights both craftsmanship and sustainable construction.

Central courtyards and skywells, inspired by Linpan typology and the Si Shui Gui Tang principle (“Four Waters Returning to the Hall”), form the museum’s core. The main halls, eaves, and corridors frame these courtyards, creating verticality while maintaining openness to the sky. Visitors experience a journey from the central water feature to the lobby, exhibitions, and outdoor fields, recreating the social essence of the Bai Longmenzhen courtyard gatherings, typical of Western Sichuan.

With its thoughtful integration of sustainable architecture, cultural heritage, and ecological sensitivity, the Douban Museum exemplifies a modern reinterpretation of traditional Sichuan dwellings. It serves as both a cultural landmark and a model for environmentally conscious design in heritage landscapes.

All the photographs are works of  404NFSTUDIO