Northwest Bird’s-Eye View
Top Bird’s-Eye View
This project is situated at the border between the North China Plain and the Loess Plateau, within the East Taihang Scenic Area on the eastern side of the Taihang Mountains. It takes advantage of the unique and breathtaking red sandstone mountain landscape. A distinctive feature of this scenic area is its extensive aerial boardwalks built along high cliffs, allowing visitors to traverse between striking peaks and rock formations, offering an unparalleled visual experience.
Northeast Bird’s-Eye View
Southeast Bird’s-Eye View
The restaurant serves as the main dining hub along the boardwalk route. It is perched on a steep cliff, overlooking expansive mountain views, with a sheer drop of nearly 200 meters, emphasizing the dramatic terrain.
Northwest Side Facade
Front Facade
The primary design consideration was minimizing the impact on this prominent landscape. The concept was inspired by an eagle perched on a cliff in these majestic mountains—both an observer and a defining element of the scenery. Since the surrounding facilities, such as cableways and glass walkways, embody modernist or industrial styles, and given that the area is not strictly a nature or landscape conservation zone, the design avoided traditional architecture. Instead, it embraced a modern, aerodynamic form that harmonizes with the area’s tones and land use characteristics. The industrial aesthetic contrasts with the rugged northern mountains and thick red sandstone, creating a dialogue between human intervention and nature, complementing the cableway station at the mountain’s base.
Westward Night View from the Hillside
Southwest Bird’s-Eye Night View
The layout follows a long cross shape that adapts to the cliff’s contours, emphasizing panoramic views. The double-sloped roof is cut and raised at the center, evoking the image of a structure ready to take flight from the cliff. The main ridge features a semi-transparent metal grille that conceals a flat skylight beneath, softening the building’s silhouette like a fish fin.
Roof Detail
Northeast Perspective
The building’s main structure is steel, enveloped by a titanium zinc sheet metal roof and laminated glass curtain walls. Inside, solid wood finishes on the roof and interiors provide warmth, balancing the coldness of the exterior metal and glass.
North Side Backlit View
Roof Details
North Side Under the Eaves
West Hall
East View of the Second Floor Lobby
Structural Decomposition Diagram
Northeast Night Scene
Night View of Entrance Hall
North Side Café
First Floor Lobby Staircase
Constructing buildings at the mountaintop posed significant challenges. Large machinery could not be transported uphill, and oversized materials were impossible to carry. Only smaller sections of glass and steel could be delivered, yet glass damage rates remained high. The site’s excavation and foundation work were complex, requiring a complete redesign of the basement following actual excavation conditions.
Interior During Construction
Although the architectural language is modern, the site selection and imagery draw on traditional Chinese landscape aesthetics. As Zong Baihua expressed, “Chinese people love to place empty pavilions in mountains and waters… the mountains are lush, the forests dense, the pavilions peaceful, and the clouds drifting.” This philosophy underpins the design concept of this project.
South Facade
Project Drawings
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
Underground Floor Plan
Roof Plan
West Elevation View
North Elevation View
Sectional View
Project Information
Project Type: Restaurant
Location: Handan, China
Architectural Design: Beijing Tiandi Urban Architectural Design
Area: 1,227 m²
Year of Completion: 2018
Manufacturer: VMZINC France
Principal Architect: Yuan Mu
Construction Drawing Design: China Academy of Building Research
Interior Design: Jiang Dawei, Gao Zhan, Lv Shengbin (Henan Linjian Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.)
Prefabricated Process Consulting: Beijing Zhongji Jingu Integrated Housing Technology Co., Ltd.
Construction Contractor: Hebei Yunzheng Construction Co., Ltd.
Owner: Wu’an East Taihang Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
Photographer: Xiao Kaixiong
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up