Museum/Bówùguǎn. A Conversation with Liu Jiakun About Time Issues in Architecture in China

The text discusses time-related issues in architecture through a conversation with Liu Jiakun, one of China’s most prominent architects, who was recently awarded the Pritzker Prize. His work primarily focuses on public space projects, including museums and the revitalization of historical sites and newly developed areas. Liu Jiakun elaborates on the unique aspects of museum design in China and his narrative approach to architecture, using four of his most well-known projects as examples. These include a memorial dedicated to the victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and three public buildings. In the latter projects, he emphasizes the rural identity and historical markers of the communities. Throughout the conversation, Liu’s approach to architectural design unfolds as a material translation of connections between collective memories, local identities, and the present, past, and future of the communities he has worked with.