apm Gallery is a building renovation project in Haikou Gaoxingli, a commercial block in China. It has been transformed into an art gallery, which infuses contemporary art and sense of humanism into the block.

The two-storey structure is wrapped by undulating corten steel, unfolding across a sequence of corridors. Passersby would happen to approach the architecture when they walk along the corridor. Meanwhile, the openings that punctuating the ground-level exhibition walls help extend the dialogue outdoors, where people could catch glimpses of the indoor artworks, art starts from curiosity. The circular corridors extend forward, enclosing a courtyard in the original open space, which, though not large, could become an outdoor exhibition and event space in the future.

Ascending from the corridors, three volumes gracefully stack, each overhanging to allow the new facade to bypass the eaves of the original building. The large volumes blur the floor divisions, lending the petite gallery a sculptural presence, grand yet modest. The new structural system integrates with the original building and reorganizes the modules to create a regular vertical division on the facade. It intends to echo the weathered steel plates of the red brick buildings, becoming more appealing over time.


Inside, there are two distinct galleries for art exhibitions. The black gallery on the ground floor with unique spatial attributes seamlessly melds the indoor and outdoor experiences. Its dark steel plates cast serene light and shadow for interior. The white gallery upstairs might be preferred by curators. With controllable lighting and space, it basks under an open roof, inviting daylight to illuminate the exhibition space. Together, they enrich apm’s offerings, expanding the potential of the art gallery.