A doughnut-shaped meteorological balloon and woven timber tunnel are part of a new entrance designed by Chinese architectural practice Line+ Studio in Zhejiang, China.
Named Woven Gateway and Sky Ring, the two structures were commissioned to enhance the Chuan Yan Nineteen Peaks Scenic Area. Line+ Studio designed the structures to be minimal but impactful, seeking to improve the visitor experience through simple gestures that would not detract from the natural setting.
“Xiayanbei Village, located on a Ridgeline in eastern Zhejiang, is surrounded by misty mountains and scenic views, making it a popular destination for outdoor activities,” according to the studio. “However, the village faces challenges like limited infrastructure and carrying capacity.”
“The design strategy tackles these by reusing existing land and introducing new experiences without consuming additional land.”
The Woven Passage is a 20-metre-long tunnel that frames the main entrance road into the village. It is made from a curved structure of interlocking timber elements and was inspired by the area’s history of bamboo weaving. In addition, the tunnel was designed to frame the landscape and protect the road from further erosion caused by heavy rains.
The tunnel roof has been clad in locally sourced black slate tiles, intended to appear as what the practice terms a “natural extension of the landscape”.
“This design evokes a spatial experience similar to discovering a hidden mountain passage, where a confined space suddenly opens up, creating a sense of surprise and clarity,” the studio said. “The passage design aims to create an iconic entrance and restore the landscape.”
The Sky Ring is located in a nearby field. It is a doughnut-shaped balloon tethered above an outdoor gathering area designed to be a “public symbol” and illuminated at night by colour-changing lights.
It also functions as a meteorological balloon, informed by the fact that many of the activities that take place in the scenic area—such as hiking, camping, and farming—are highly dependent on the weather.
“When wind speeds are below eight metres-per-second, it ascends to 25 meters, tethered by 16 evenly distributed cables,” according to the studio. “In harsh weather, it retracts and anchors securely to the ground using six inner and eight outer cables.”
“This approach brings visual and experiential novelty to visitors while offering new development opportunities for the village, making Xiayanbei a distinctive and memorable addition to the increasingly standardised rural tourism landscape,” it added.
Line+ Studio, previously known as Gad Line+ Studio, is an architecture firm based in Hangzhou, China, founded by Meng Fanhao and Zhu Peidong. The studio recently completed another landscape-focused project in Shenzhen, where it perched a curvaceous viewpoint atop Maluan Mountain.
