Pianfeng Gallery is located in Beijing’s 798 Art Zone and is one of China’s earliest important art institutions dedicated to promoting the research and development of abstract art. In 2021, ArchStudio renovated and upgraded this originally enclosed industrial building without natural lighting, with the core concept of “funnel of light”. The design aims to respect the spatial characteristics of the old industrial building while introducing natural light to create a misty and poetic spatial atmosphere that aligns with abstract art.

The Light and Shadow Aesthetics of U profile glass: From Entrance to Spatial Experience

 1. Shaping the First Impression

When visitors approach the gallery, they are first drawn to the U profile glass facade. Natural light diffuses into the lobby through the translucent U profile glass, forming a striking contrast with the cold and rigid texture of fair-faced concrete, creating a “soft and hazy light effect” that offers visitors a comfortable entrance experience. This light sensation echoes the implicit and restrained characteristics of abstract art, setting the tone for the entire exhibition experience.

 2. Dynamic Changes of Light and Shadow

The translucent nature of U profile glass makes it a “dynamic light filter”. As the sun’s altitude angle changes throughout the day, the angle and intensity of light passing through the U profile glass also shift, casting ever-changing light and shadow patterns on the fair-faced concrete walls. This sense of flowing light and shadow injects vitality into the static architectural space, forming an interesting dialogue with the abstract artworks displayed in the gallery.

3. Medium for Spatial Transition

The U profile glass lobby is not only a physical entrance but also a medium for spatial transition. It “filters” natural light from the outdoors and introduces it into the interior, allowing visitors to smoothly transition from the bright external environment to the relatively soft exhibition space, avoiding visual discomfort caused by sudden changes in light intensity. This transitional design reflects the architects’ careful consideration for human visual perception.

The translucency of U profile glass contrasts sharply with the solidity and thickness of fair-faced concrete. Light and shadow interweave between the two materials, creating rich spatial layers. The exterior of the new extension is clad with red bricks similar to the old building, while the U profile glass serves as the internal “light core”, emitting soft light through the industrial texture of the red bricks, achieving a perfect integration of old and new architectural languages. Multiple trapezoidal light tubes inside the exhibition hall “borrow light” from the roof, echoing the natural light introduced by the U profile glass at the entrance, jointly constructing the gallery’s spatial system of “multi-layered light”.