Xiamen Jinsha Academy — A Work by Wang Shu

Architectural master Wang Shu also has a work in Xiamen — Jinsha Academy. According to records, Jinsha Academy dates back to the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty and has now been rebuilt at a different location. Wang Shu designed it with the concept of "layered mountains and overlapping courtyards," using materials such as rammed earth, red tiles, red bricks, and natural wood, blending traditional Minnan architectural elements with modern design concepts. The academy covers a small area, surrounded by a circle of sharply angled modern high-rises. Having seen many of the master's works in Zhejiang, although this place incorporates Minnan elements, from inside to out, every move and style seems consistent with the master's stable style. Perhaps it is due to the color of the red bricks, or maybe because many yellowish bamboo materials are used inside, this building feels less industrially rigid and cold than those seen before. Under the orange-red light and shadows cast by the autumn dusk, it appears even warmer and more poetic.