Xichang Jianchuan Film Museum: Cinematic Exhibition Experience

Site and Master Plan

Xichang is located within the new development area connected to the high-speed railway station in Xichang city, situated inside the Anning River Valley. This location reflects the integration of modern cultural institutions with transportation hubs and urban infrastructure.

Museum Complex Structure

The project follows a layout that brings multiple cultural institutions together in a single site, consisting of 17 museums plus 5 functional zones. This model allows for the presentation of diverse themes within a cohesive cultural framework.

Program and Area

The project is divided into two main tracks: the Charity Museums Project and the Film Museum. The total built-up area is approximately 265,000 square meters, and the master plan was developed under the supervision of a team led by Fan Jianchuan. This plan involved careful design considerations to integrate both functional and aesthetic requirements.

Diversity of Museums within the Complex

Xichang houses a wide range of specialized museums covering various aspects of the film industry. These museums include topics such as the global and Chinese history of cinema, cinematography techniques, documentary, scientific, and educational films, as well as cinematic arts, movie posters, and children’s films.

This diversity allows for a comprehensive perspective on the evolution of the film industry, from technical aspects to the artistic and cultural dimensions associated with it.

Implementation Phases

The current implementation phase includes several core museums, such as the Museum of Chinese Cinema Development, the Cinematography Museum, the Feature Film Museum, and the Documentary, Scientific, and Educational Film Museum. The plan was to complete the construction of all wings of the complex by the end of 2023, following a phased construction approach.

Museum Location within the Complex

The Documentary Film Museum is situated at the heart of Xichang, near the master-planned axis known as Star Avenue. This location gives the museum a central role within visitor circulation and movement paths throughout the cultural complex.

Design Concept

The museum’s concept is inspired by the nature of documentary films themselves, which are typically associated with realism and authenticity in portraying events. Accordingly, the architectural design aims to translate this idea by creating a museum that conveys a sense of realism and openness, rather than relying on the traditional enclosed museum model.

Relationship with Climate and Function

Furthermore, the design takes into account the local climate of Xichang and the requirements of museum exhibition. As a result, the museum was envisioned to adapt to the site’s climatic conditions while offering an exhibition experience that is relatively distinct from conventional museum models.

Open Hall and Climate Experience

The museum’s second floor is designed as an open exhibition hall, allowing natural air and sunlight from Xichang to permeate the building. This design provides visitors with a sensory experience, enabling them to feel the city’s climate and connect the documentary film experience across the past, present, and future.

Public and Spiritual Space

By creating open courtyards and spaces connected to the external environment, the building transforms into a distinctive public space and a place with a spiritual dimension within the cultural complex, enhancing the visitor experience and strengthening their connection with the exhibition. The integration of these spaces also reflects principles of interior design that promote openness and accessibility.

Expression of Documentary Objectivity

The design employs symbolic techniques that reflect the nature and realism of documentary films. For instance, materials such as clear-water concrete were used to emphasize the interplay of light and shadow, adding a visual dimension that links the material to the content.

Closed Exhibitions and Winding Roof

Due to the need for permanent exhibitions, part of the first floor is designated as a closed hall. Additionally, the building’s winding roof is designed to mimic a film production studio, reflecting the spirit of creativity and providing a metaphorical layer to the architectural functions, serving as a symbolic space that bridges filmmaking with the visitor experience. These features also connect to broader architecture competitions and showcase innovative approaches in museum buildings.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The Xichang Jianchuan Film Museum emerges as a spatial artifact resulting from the direction of regional capital and government cultural programs, leveraging public investments to consolidate development around a high-speed rail infrastructure. Regulatory constraints, such as urban planning, climate adaptation requirements, and phased construction approvals, shaped a dual program of open and closed exhibition spaces, aligning population and visitor flows to achieve operational efficiency and mitigate risks.

The final project configuration, comprising multiple museum units and integrated functional zones, represents a spatial compromise between program density and user flow distribution, creating controlled experiential gradients without consideration for the designer’s personal creativity. Symbolic elements, such as the winding roof and open exhibitions, function as tools for market differentiation within the cultural sector, reinforcing compliance with institutional requirements while providing flexibility to accommodate user units. The project exemplifies architecture as a product of capital and policy rather than an independent design choice.