The Ullen Centre for Contemporary Art (UCCA) has opened a sandcastle-like museum outside Beijing on China’s Gold Coast.

Located in the Aranya Gold Coast Community on the shore of the Bohai Sea, UCCA Dune is the region’s first major contemporary art institution.

Designed by Li Hu and Huang Wenjing of OPEN Architecture, UCCA Dune was created to evoke the sensation of "children’s tireless digging in the sand". It is almost entirely covered by windswept dunes and features a network of interconnected caves which house 10 exhibition galleries, a cafe, reception area, and reading room.

Currently, the building spans 930 sq m, but in 2019 it will expand to include a tidal causeway. This unique area – accessible only at low tide – will link visitors to a semi-submerged "Sea Art Space".

In a statement, UCCA director Philip Tinari said: "UCCA is excited to move beyond its flagship location in Beijing with a permanent presence in this stunning building in a gorgeous natural setting. We look forward to working with great artists to show their work in this new context, and to offering our members and visitors the chance for an unforgettable art experience by the sea."

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