Rose Museum

The museum opened in 2016 for the inauguration of the International Rose Convention of the World Federation of Rose Societies (WFRS), in which more than 30 countries participate. In the 100-hectare rose park, more than 2000 varieties of roses are displayed to the public.

Roses and floriculture are deeply rooted in Chinese Culture, dating back to the 11th century BC. The museum exhibits the extraordinary history and culture of the flower, that finds its origin in the country. Flowers and plants have their own symbolism in the Chinese culture; in this system, the rose refers to love, peace, and eternity. The Daxing district, where the museum is located, is known for growing Chinese roses.

The Rose Museum is a unique blend of modern architecture and various traditional concepts from Chinese culture. Over the centuries, enclosed courtyards epitomized traditional Chinese architecture and culture; the “ideal model” for expressing social hierarchies and the harmony between people, buildings, and nature. The design is inspired by this concept but represents a modern interpretation of the traditional courtyard through the way the open space is embraced by enclosed compounds. The semi-transparent facade plays with the physical and ideological boundary between inside and outside, while the closed part of the building offers security and privacy. The result is an imposing building that shows the modern Chinese identity, whilst being inextricably linked to an ancient tradition.

The museum is covered by a soft, stainless steel façade of 300 meters long and 17 meters high, that is perforated by a rose-shaped pattern. This detached skin creates four half-open courtyards between the façade and the main museum building,. Both these partially open transitional spaces and the enclosed interior space of the museum can be arranged as accessible exhibition spaces. During the day, the light entering through the perforated rose pattern creates an impressive play of light and shadow. In the evening, the facade itself lights up and the flower-shaped shadows are projected outwards.