Sloping exhibition rooms fold around curvy courtyards and a fish pond at this art gallery in Beijing - the first completed project by new studio Daipu Architects (+ slideshow).

Tree Art Museum is located beside a main road in the Songzhuang arts district, so the architect wanted to create secluded spaces outside the gallery where artists and visitors can socialise. One large courtyard is inserted in front of the building, while a second is positioned at the back and a terrace ramps up over the roof.

Architect Dai Pu explains: "This project hopes to create a place where local people and visitors would communicate with nature, light, trees, water and contemporary art."

A chunky concrete wall separates the entrance courtyard from the road. A sliced opening reveals it to be a corridor, offering an informal exhibition space on the way into the galleries.

Glazed curtain walls surround the courtyard facades of the building, bringing natural light into the two gallery floors and revealing the sloping floors.

"I hope people might be attracted into the museum by the view at the entrance," said Dai Pu. "Their eyes would follow the curvy floorslab coming from the ground all the way up to the roof."

Zigzagging ramps at one end of the building lead up from the ground to the rooftop terrace, which also accommodates four smaller patios.

Meeting rooms and offices are lined up along the rear of the building and face down onto the secondary courtyard.

Dai Pu previously worked for Beijing studio MAD, where he was project architect for Hutong Bubble 32, a bubble-shaped extension to a traditional Chinese courtyard house. Tree Art Museum is his first project since launching Daipu Architects.

Other new galleries in China include Jade Museum, located in a converted office block in Shanghai, and The Design Republic Commune, a design gallery, shop and event space in the same city. See more architecture in China.

For job opportunities at Daipu Architects, visit their company profile on Dezeen Jobs.

Photography is by Shu He.

Here's some more information from Daipu Architects:

Located in Songzhuang, Beijing, China, Tree art museum lies beside the main road of the area. Original village has vanished, replaced by big scale blocks which better fit for cars. Even if renowned as artist village, it's difficult to stay or enjoy art exploration without local artist friend's introducing. So, the first idea was to create an ambient, a public space where people would like to stay, date and communicate.

I hope people might be attracted into the museum by the view at the entrance. Their eyes would follow the curvy floorslab coming from the ground all the way up to the roof. People could choose getting into the space either through the ramp or the courtyard with a pool and tree on the first floor. Sky is reflected onto the ground, with reflecting pool together, helping people to filter their mind and forget the environment out there.

The first courtyard was separated with the main road and dust outside by a bare-concrete wall. People would stay and chat under the tree in the courtyard, or, just feed fishes by the reflecting pool. Meanwhile, they could enjoy artworks and watch other people lingering inside the building through curtain wall. In the bare-concrete wall, there is a corridor which could be utilized to exhibit books and small sculptures. The curvature varies slightly along the path.

The second courtyard introduces nature light to the back exhibition hall and meeting room on 2nd floor, while separating the public and privacy needed. The curvy wall implies people to the other side of the building, and introduces them to come to the public stairs-plaza on the roof, where people could sit and enjoy sunshine, or look down to the pool or even chat with people down in the courtyard.

There are six and half courtyards on 2,695 square meters site. Besides the two bigger ones for exhibition, there are four more courtyards lying on the upper part. Two yards apply sunlight to the back space and introduce skylight to the exhibition hall below. The other two yards are on the top of the floor, which also open to sky.

Above: axonometric diagram - click for larger image

By taking real and pure expression, this project hopes to create a place where local people and visitors would communicate with nature, light, trees, water and contemporary art. This simple and plain idea will spread out through their experience.

Above: ground floor plan - click for larger image

Project title: Tree Art Museum
Location: Song zhuang, Beijing, China
Height: 18.78 meter
No. of floors: Exhibition part: 2 stories, Function part: 5 stories
Building Area: 3,200 square meters
Site area: 2,695 square meters

Above: first and second floor plans - click for larger image

Client: Chinese Contemporary Art Development Foundation
Design Architect: Daipu Architects
Director: Dai Pu
Design Team: Dai Pu, Feng Jing, Liu Yi

Above: third and fourth floor plans - click for larger image

Structural Engineer: Huang Shuangxi
Water Engineer: Lei Ming
Mechanical Engineer: Wang Gepeng
Electrical Engineer: Wang Xiang
Curtain Consultant: Beijing Doorwin Decoration Co, Ltd
Design: 2009.11
Construction: 2010.11 - 2012.09

Above: cross section one - click for larger image

Above: cross section two - click for larger image

Above: street elevation - click for larger image