Winner: Exhibition design of the year 2024. Wonder Architects has designed the exhibition installations and a permanent historical exhibition at Hong'en Temple in Beijing, China.

The Hong'en Temple, located at the northern end of Beijing's Central Axis, has a history that dates back to the Yuan Dynasty. Over the past 700 years, its functions and forms have continually evolved, making it a prime example of the transformation of Beijing's old city.

After a thorough renovation in 2023, Wonder Architects faced the challenge of reconstructing the context for narrating local history within the newly restored main hall. The architects designed exhibition installations inspired by traditional temple furniture, which can be disassembled and reassembled to create various display scenarios according to different needs.

These installations embody a logic of time and space and offer viewing experiences that not only align with the site's unique characteristics but also provide an immersive environment for fragmented exhibits. For a historical site imbued with a sense of everyday life, this narrative approach establishes a new model for permanent historical exhibitions.

"The information presented in the exhibition can ferment through the interaction between people and objects and between people and space, creating a novel experience," said Wonder Architects.

"This becomes a documentary reconstruction of the historical site, which does not even rely on the space with historical information itself."

Studio: Wonder Architects
Project: Exhibition Installations and Permanent Historical Exhibition at Hong'en Temple
Credits: Zhongzhou Jiacheng (Beijing) Urban Renewal Cultural Development