Hebi City, Henan Province, China
Combining elements of culture, innovation, and nature, Galaxy Arch Architects have transformed a formerly abandoned bungalow that once served as a resting place for visitors into a mountain pavilion that transcends its physical form and becomes a living testament to innovative architectural methodologies while simultaneously paying respect to the area’s rich cultural heritage and traditional crafts.
“As we ascended Dapi Mountain for the first time, we encountered endless rocks, moss-covered grounds, guiding pine trees, and a series of ancient temples. Standing amidst the ancient temple cluster on the site, we deeply felt that the new construction would inevitably play a secondary role, integrating itself humbly into the millennia-old historical ambiance, ” says the studio.
The area is renowned for housing the earliest and largest cliff-carved Buddha statue in China, and to the north of the mountain lies Guanyin Temple, which dates back to 700 years ago and is surrounded by ancient cypress trees.
The main purpose is to revitalize this location into a station, providing visitors with an enhanced experience while showcasing the local intangible cultural heritage and craftsmanship.
During their initial visit to the site, the architects discovered that Dapi Mountain had an actual height of 135 meters, contrary to our initial perception of towering peaks.
Instead, it stood as a solitary peak rising abruptly from flat terrain.
The entire mountain was composed of grey stone, ascending in gentle steps, exuding a serene and elegant ambiance with lush greenery all around.
What left a lasting impression was the presence of these natural grey stone formations. There were no artificially constructed roads near the site.
Instead, the landscape was dominated by the rugged appearance of the mountain itself.
This naturally expressive setting filled us with anticipation for the architectural character.
Standing within the site, we traversed countless thoughts, ultimately focusing on practical design challenges.
The original entrance to the site was located on the west side, relatively concealed and narrow, with only a zigzag-shaped double-sloped bungalow within the site.
After analyzing the topography of the site and considering the flow of people nearby, the studio has decided to position the main entrance on the east side, where the mountain terrain underwent dramatic changes, resulting in a height difference of approximately 2 meters.
Accompanied by a well-organized staircase at the entrance, the architects aimed to create an architecture that would greet visitors ascending the mountain in the most exhilarating manner.
The architectural layout adopted the enclosed arrangement of the original site, employing a gentle linear volume that linked the entrance spaces on the east and west sides, while also providing ample courtyard space for resting on the south side.
To prevent the interior space from appearing cramped and elongated, we added a small volume in the best position for northern landscape views.
It seamlessly integrated with the main structure, enhancing the visual richness of the eastern entrance, and presenting a contrasting front-back and high-low state.
The junction of the volumes became particularly complex due to irregular contours, with three ridges and one valley converging at a single point.
Not only did they intersect and connect with each other in terms of mathematical relationships, but they also varied in height.
This approach aimed to enhance the architectural form’s diversity while ensuring proper drainage.
Ascending the steps along the main entrance, tourists walk past a grey stone wall adorned with red maple trees and enter an open rest area.
On the southern side, there are continuous solid wood doors with elegant window frames that offer views of the outdoor garden courtyard.
Looking out from the north-facing windows, an unobstructed mountain view stretches before us.
Opening the doors leads to a terrace where they can stand, leaning against the railing, and gaze into the distance, allowing the mountain breeze to brush past.
Entering the site through the secondary entrance provides a completely different experience.
Passing through a path of grey stone steps amidst a grove of cypress trees, people stroll leisurely along the covered corridor.
On the left side, a richly textured curved rammed earth wall presents itself, while on the right side, there is an expansive view of the courtyard scenery and a half-height stone feature wall.
As the line of sight gradually lowers, people step into the station space.
The varied experience under the covered corridor diminishes the prominence of the service area on the other side of the rammed earth wall.
Stepping inside the station, the furniture becomes an extension of the walls. Bookshelves, reception counters, and storage racks follow the contours of the walls, further emphasizing spatial delineation.
If the roof serves as an element that brings together the design elements, the furniture acts as the structural component within the space, utilizing a unified vocabulary to depict different levels of variation.
Moving from the exterior to the interior, the space transitions from enclosed to gradually transparent, slowly merging the outdoor landscape into the indoor environment.
Taking a panoramic view of the entire site, the architecture should present itself in a discreet manner within this historic mountainous landscape, resonating with the nearby ancient structures such as the Guanyin Temple and Bagua Tower.
While preserving the sloping roof form of the surrounding ancient buildings, the main structure was constructed using modern construction methods to achieve a lighter architectural form.
The architecture continues the language of ancient buildings with upturned eaves, gradually raising the eave heights of the eastern and western entrances to create a sense of grand entrance, while keeping the center portion as low as possible, just enough to avoid bumping heads.
In contrast, the terrain of the mountain slopes gradually decreases from the center, moving in the opposite direction of the architecture, creating a noticeable tension between them.
In order to better integrate the architecture into the surrounding environment, the height of the building was precisely controlled, not exceeding the height of the main gate of Guanyin Temple, presenting a humble and modest posture in front of the ancient buildings.
At the same time, in the selection of building materials, many local materials were used, such as grey stone from Taihang Mountain, locally used preserved wood, rammed earth walls with a rustic atmosphere, and slate tiles to enhance the texture of the roof.
Project: Dapi Mountain Pavilion
Architects: Galaxy Arch Architects
Lead Architect: Xin Ji
Design Team: Jiaqi Ge, Chao Chen, and Ting Xi
Engineering: Henan Zhengjue Construction Engineering Co.
Client: Xunxian Tourism Development Service Center
Photographers: Xiaobin Lv and Arch-Exist
