M+博物馆是西九文化区（West Kowloon Cultural District）的一个重要文化中心，展示20世纪和21世纪的艺术、设计、建筑和动态影像。仅仅20年前，西九文化区所在地还是海港的一部分。一块接一块地填海造地，将天然港湾改造成为陆地。现在，这片人工填海的土地是西九文化区新建筑的建设场地。
有趣的是，恰恰是另一项曾被视为场地规划的障碍的工程，即机场快线的地下隧道，定义了这片区域的特殊性，成为M+博物馆项目设计的起点。M+博物馆由外观粗犷且规模庞大的展览空间组成，似乎是将整个建筑锚定在地面上。它在横跨隧道上方，为艺术和设计、装置和表演打造了一个壮美的空间。由L形的“黑盒以及可进行空间重构的展示空间（Studio Space）组成、与装卸及仓储区域直接相连，形成了一处下沉的展览地形称为“潜空间”。
这不仅满足了21世纪的艺术和设计需求，也为独特的艺术体验搭建了舞台，与西九文化区的独特性相辅相成。横跨在这种“工业”景观上方的水平建筑体则容纳了更多传统的展览空间。与城市的结构相似，所有展厅都基于正交网络布置。中庭可直接通往各个展览区，包括临展区和明确定义的Anchor Room。高大的“焦点空间（Focus Gallery）”从横向的展厅建筑体块上矗立起来，在天花板正下方形成了两个侧向采光带，直连上方的竖向员工和教育建筑。从中庭的4个角落可以进入各个系列的展厅。
每个系列都由一个特定的空间呈现：宽阔狭长的自然光展厅、直通屋顶露台的庭院、朝向西九艺术公园（West Kowloon Art Park）的大玻璃窗展厅和面向维多利亚港的会堂。这些特定的空间区分和构造了展览空间顺序，又可以通过其他空间组合或分割成更小的单元。展厅本身可以从上方或侧面的开口处自然采光，朝艺术广场（Artist Square）、公园和对岸港岛的天际线都有各种各样的开口。
在“潜空间”和水平抬升的展览建筑之间的连接处，设有一个宽敞的公共入口平台。该区域没有建造遮挡交通、光线和视野的建筑实体，而是形成了一个明亮、亲切的平台，开放、通透，又能遮挡阳光，公众可以从四面八方进入。平台的每个区域都有特定的功能。博物馆商店位于艺术广场旁边的角落里。大型临时展览空间面向公园，可从主平台直接进入。俯瞰海滨长廊和维多利亚港，一边是会堂，另一边是全玻璃外墙的“学习中心（Learning Center）”，还有一个公共庭院通向屋顶花园。票务和咨询台设在平台中央。平台底部有一个巨大的对角开口，可以俯瞰下沉的“潜空间”，天花上的巨大开口使参观者既可看到展厅及其与塔楼的交界处，又可仰望天空。
M+博物馆竖向大楼外部通透的体量是以水平展示空间的建筑体块为中心垂直向上延伸。两个体块构成一个整体，融合为一个倒T形的建筑形体。细长的竖直向建筑符合总体规划中规定的高度，建筑内设有研究设施、艺术家驻地工作室和策展中心，自然过滤的阳光和广阔的城市景观给研究、学习和工作带来全新体验。顶层设有视野开阔的会员休息室和公共餐厅。LED照明系统与面向维多利亚港正面的水平遮阳百叶系统融为一体，将建筑启动为粗颗粒的超大显示幕，展现精选的或特别委托创作的动态影像艺术品。
由此建造的建筑并不是简单地矗立在其周边环境中，也由周边环境所塑造。其精心设计、具有都市感和复古感的造型，强调了九龙天际线的标志性特征。另一方面，这一传统性又被其从远处可见的艺术气息所颠覆，这使M+博物馆成为不断更新、不断反复运算的场所，超脱了预先定义的形式。它既是一个大型公共空间，也是人与艺术交流、相遇和互动的平台。
M + is a cultural center for 20th and 21st century art, design, architecture, and the moving image. As such, it embraces the entire spectrum of spaces, means of display and activities related to exhibiting and viewing these media. The spaces range from the conventional white cube, reconfigurable spaces, screening rooms and multipurpose facilities to so-called third spaces and even an ‘Industrial Space.’ Paradoxically, it is yet another work of engineering that defines the specificity of this place: the underground tunnel of the Airport Express. Initially an obstacle that complicated planning, this distinctive feature has become the raison d’être for our project, consisting of a rough, large-scale exhibition universe that quite literally anchors the entire building in the ground.
By uncovering the tunnel, a spectacular space is created for art and design, installation and performance, a ‘Found Space.’ Combined with an L-shaped Black Box, a reconfigurable Studio Space, direct access to the loading dock as well as a large part of the storage area, a sunken forum and (exhibition) topography have been created. These are not only tailored to the needs of art and design in the 21st century, but also set the stage for a unique art experience, inseparable from the specific character of this location. The horizontal building hovering above this ‘industrial’ landscape houses the more conventional display spaces.
As in a city, the arrangement of all the galleries is based on an orthogonal grid. A central plaza provides direct access to the entire exhibition area. This includes not only the temporary exhibitions but also a clearly defined ‘Focus Gallery.’ In the joint between the ‘Found Space’ and the lifted horizontal exhibition building, there is a spacious entrance area for the public. The diaphanous vertical extension of the M+ building is centered on the horizontal slab of exhibition spaces. The two elements form a single entity, fused into the shape of an upside down T. This thin and long vertical structure provides research facilities, artist-in-residence studios and a curatorial center. Integrated into the sun-shading horizontal louvers of the facade facing the harbor, an LED lighting system activates the building as a coarse-grained, oversized display screen for selected or especially commissioned works of art and establishes M+ as part of the Victoria Harbour skyline.