Shanghai Center of Photography

2555-1 Longteng Avenue, Xuhui District Shanghai

The Shanghai Center of Photography (SCôP) was founded by Mr. Liu Xiangcheng, a renowned photographer and designed by Sharon Johnston & Mark Lee. Located at No. 2555-1 Longteng Ave, the SCôP was the first venue to open in the Pilot Zone.


The 480-square-meter center features uniquely curved exhibition spaces as well as three strikingly designed rooms with concave walls leaning in toward a triangular courtyard. The high ceilings together with a moon-shaped sunroof allow natural light to pour into the exhibition space without hindering visitors' appreciation of the exhibits. The SCôP makes remarkably effective use of its roughly 500 square meters of floor space, allowing visitors to peruse the exhibitions on a 90-meter-long path.

The perimeter of the building is a combination of several smoothly rounded blocks offset by a textured concrete wall. This bold, contemporary look made the building a highlight at the 2013 West Bund Biennial of Architecture and Contemporary Art.