Foster + Partners wraps Jia Art gallery in Shanghai with tubular glass facades

British architecture studio Foster + Partners has completed Jia Art, a gallery in Shanghai's Putuo district, featuring ribbed glass facades that evoke a cluster of petals. The building's stepped silhouette and curved form were inspired by flowers in nearby Changfeng Park, part of the larger Changfeng development. A double-height atrium divides the space, with main galleries in the north and community-focused exhibition, event, and educational areas in the south. Upper levels step outward and cantilever over public space, wrapped in tubular glass framed by curved stainless steel tubes. Senior partner John Blythe said the design draws on a blossoming flower's geometry, creating calm and balance. Founder Norman Foster emphasized the project's role in embedding art and culture in cities, integrating the development into Shanghai's fabric. The studio recently also designed the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi and a sculpture garden beside the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.