shaped with clay

KKAA'S UCCA Clay not only showcases traditional pottery craft but uses clay products to create a unique, authentic architecture.

- Text by Luo JingmeiPhotography by Fangfang Tian and Eiichi Kano (page 29)

In Dingshu Town in Yixing, China, an amorphous creature has arisen amidst the traditional buildings. Its sinuous form rises to sharp points then dips low to the ground, like a dragon crawling along the earth, as if pondering its next move. This is a new building unveiled in late-2024 by KKAA (Kengo Kuma Architects & Associates), and pays homage to the town's ceramic-making history.

In Yixing, the production of ceramics goes back 7,000 years to the mid-Neolithic era. The pottery culture elevated from simple patterns when Zisha was discovered during the Song and Yuan dynasties (circa 960 to 1368 AD). Henceforth, Yixing became synonymous with exquisite tea-ware made from the 'purple earth' in the area. The clay contains iron, kaolin, quartz and mica that when fired, results in a strong, porous structure, facilitating air and heat convection. Used overtime, the tea-ware enhances the flavour of tea.

In recent decades, ancient clay mines in Yixing shuttered from the damage of over-mining, and this part of the project where the Yixing Zisha Craft Factory No. 2 was located had been decommissioned. The new UCCA Clay is a museum planned as part of a larger vision to revitalise the small town and anchor its position as a dedicated ceramics centre for an international audience. Spanning 3,437 sqm, the museum is only two-hours away from Shanghai via high-speed rail, making it a veritable destination for the learning of local craft and culture.