Yibin, China
SZAD architects and Yunchao Xu along with Atelier Apeiron were appointed by their client to create a community centerto host a variety of local cultural events and at the same time to accentuate the surrounding nature of the Shunan Bamboo Forrest in Sichuan of China.
This stunning structure was short-listed for a 2021 International Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
In the area ofShunan Bamboo Forrest, there is a unique geological landscape called Gem Lakes, which are small blue ponds formed by underground water containing copper sulfate. The site is right by a small Gem Lake in a bamboo forest around the village.
In this project, the building disappears, and nature reveals. The primary strategy is to lead life into natural field by hand-making the building in its original way.
After a long discussion with the clients, the architects decided not to use any resources from outside the forest. Plenty of bamboo, pebbles from the river and natural water of the pond, become all the materials of the house, so that the new structure gets along with the ecology system around.
Twin Archimedes spirals are applied in the plan with two paths, by which 36 bamboo arch units with different spans surround the center of twin spirals. These intersected arches generate a garden of void and solid.
Each arch is interwoven by bent fresh bamboo with local traditional crafts as both partition walls and roofs. This combination also creates a series of interconnected corridors, bringing more possibilities and interesting twists in forking paths. On open days, children could play hide-and-seek games here; seniors might play chess and drink tea under the bamboo shades.
On special occasions, artists can hold exhibitions along the arch gallery; local craftsmen may teach ancient bamboo weaving skills in the workshops. Always, the site is the best place for a forest camp. In the future, these bamboo arches can also be reassembled or recycled according to specific space requirements.
Project:The Garden of Forking Paths in Shunan Bamboo Sea
Architects: SZAD/Yunchao Xu/Atelier Apeiron
Client: Yibin Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
Contractor: Yibin Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
Photographers: Yunchao Xu
