China Comic and Animation Museum (CCAM)
MVRDV

Rendering © MVRDV

By using one of the cartoon's prime characteristics - the speech balloon - the Cartoon Mueum will instantly be recognized as place for cartoons, comics and animations.

Comics and animations have long been considered a form of entertainment for the younger generations but develop more and more into a sophisticated art form. The initiative for a museum especially for this relatively recent art form creates a platform which will unite the worlds of art and entertainment.

The neutral speech balloon becomes 3d. The program is distributed over eight volumes which are interconnected allowing for a circular tour of the entire space. The routing permits short or long visits, visits to the cinema, the temporary exhibition or the roof terrace restaurant.


Drawing courtesy MVRDV

Rendering © MVRDVTour: View from Restaurant to Theater

Rendering © MVRDVTour: Education zone

The balloon shape allows for versatile exhibitions. The permanent collection is presented in a chronological spiral whereas the temporary exhibition hall offers total flexibility.

A giant robot is in the center of the permanent exhibition spiral.

Rendering © MVRDV

One of the balloons is devoted to interactive experience in which visitors can actively experiment with all sorts of animation techniques like blue screen, stop motion, drawing, creating emotions etc. The core attraction
of this space is a gigantic 3D zoetrope.


Rendering © MVRDV

Services such as the lobby, education, three theaters/cinemas, with in total 1111 seats, and a comic book library occupy each their own balloon. If two balloons touch in the interior a large opening allows access and views in-between the volumes.


Rendering © MVRDV

Rendering © MVRDV

The comic strip Library offers views to the outside and into
adjacent balloons.


Rendering © MVRDV

The facade of the museum is covered in a cartoon relief referring to a Chinese vase. The monochrome white concrete facade allows the speech balloons to function.
At night texts are projected onto the speech balloons.


Rendering © MVRDV

Rendering © MVRDV

The structural concept by Arup enhances the sustainable profile of the building: the aerodynamic design results in even wind pressure and lower need for air-conditioning. The box in box construction of the bubbles permits different conditions inside the building and improves the energy efficiency.

Hangzhou is a metropolis with 6.4 million inhabitants 180 km southwest of Shanghai. The Museum will become a new focal point on the less populated southern side of Qiantang river. A separate expo building will house large fairs and the annual China International Comic and Animation Festival (CICAF). In between expo and CCAM a public plaza will be the centre of this festival which is the county's largest cartoon and animation event and has been held annually in Hangzhou since 2005.


Rendering © MVRDV

The CCAM will consolidate the city's leading position as China's capital of the animation industry. The new Museum will be the icon of a larger development, the Comic and Animation Centre. It comprises a series of hill-shaped buildings containing offices, a hotel and a conference centre, of which the first phase is close to completion, as well as a series of parks on islands.