OMA by Rem Koolhaas redesigns UCCA museum in Beijing

OMA, the architecture firm founded by Rem Koolhaas, has unveiled a redesign for UCCA (Ullens Center for Contemporary Art) in Beijing. The project, led by OMA partner Chris van Duijn and associate Inge Goudsmit, reimagines the facade, lobby, galleries, educational spaces, cafe, and bookstore. The renovation integrates a previously separate four-story Slab into the museum campus, now finished in red stucco with black grid windows. Ground-floor walls were removed, leaving only support columns. A nearly 70-meter glass facade by VS-A.HK offers full visibility into the center. Inside, a staircase intersects the facade, connecting interior and exterior, with space underneath for children's workshops. A second parallel staircase provides access to the second level of both the Main Hall and the Slab. The exterior plaza features seating by landscape architects Valeche and trees. The Slab will house staff offices and UCCA Kids, opening in spring 2019. UCCA, founded in 2007, is China's leading independent contemporary art institution, located in the 798 Art District. This follows the recent opening of UCCA Dune in Aranya, designed by OPEN Architecture, with 930 sqm of space including seven indoor and three outdoor galleries, a cafe, and a reading room, partially covered by sand dunes.