Over the course of six years, OPEN Architecture transformed five decommissioned aviation fuel tanks into a vibrant contemporary art center and public park. Overlooking the banks of Shanghai's Huangpu River, the art center has attracted hoards of visitors and large cultural events since opening in March 2019.

With a site area of 47,448m2, the project was envisioned as an art museum and open park that embraces public life. The tanks are surrounded by sloping landscaped meadows that connect to the street and riverside. 

OPEN Architecture retrofitted the five tanks according to the program requirements for each of them. Tank 1 is a two-story live-performance house and bar that contains a drum-shaped inner tank with curving walls that improve the space's acoustics. Tank 2 is a restaurant organized around a circular central courtyard, which features a rooftop deck for dining. 

Tank 3 was mostly left unchanged on purpose. Its original interiors has a domed space that serves as a backdrop for exhibiting large artworks and installations. An oculus skylight was added to allow natural light inside. 

Tank 4 features a three-level cube that provides spaces for gallery and canvas art. Tank 5 features an “additive rectangular volume that passes through the body of the building and emerges on both sides”, forming two stages.

The Z-shaped “Super-Surface”, a 5-hectare landscaped swath of trees and grasses, connects the five tanks. Two of the tanks are above the Super-Surface, while the other three sit below it. Altogether they result in free-flowing indoor public spaces that create access to each of the tank's gallery spaces. Entrance ramps leading to each tank are wrapped with steel panels. Steps around the tanks can double as seating for the cafe. Floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights allow natural light to flow in and offer views of the surrounding cityscape.

A stepped water landscape leads visitors down to a paved urban plaza which features hidden misting devices that create a cooling “fog” during the summer. On the south side of the plaza is an “Urban Forest” of trees and local grasses, where visitors can find the Reflecting Gallery, which is clad in mirrored stainless steel. On the eastern part of the site is another grassy plaza that can be used for outdoor events and leisure. Featuring a saw-toothed roofline, the multipurpose Project Space overlooks the river and a tree-lined reflecting pool. Public art installations are scattered throughout the site.

More photos in the gallery below.