Nestled among mountains, on one side of a mountain pass stands a vast roof stretching over a hundred meters in length and more than thirty meters in width. It is backed by a hillside rising approximately 300 meters and faces east and west, directly overlooking the provincial road. Across the mountain valley lies a village, where houses are built following the mountainous terrain with layered, continuous eaves. This is Xikeng Town in Wencheng County, known for its rich She ethnic culture as one of Zhejiang’s four ethnic towns. This impressive roof shelters the living room of Wencheng Forest Oxygen Bar Town.
Wencheng County is a nationally recognized key ecological area, boasting a forest coverage rate of 72.3% alongside abundant tourism resources. Xikeng Town, where this project is situated, features natural attractions such as Tongling Mountain Gorge, Baizhang Waterfall, and Yanmen Grand Canyon, as well as cultural sites like Liu Ji’s hometown, Anfu Temple, and the customs of the She ethnic group. This project serves as a gateway to showcase the town’s image and offer a range of functions including exhibition, reception, conferences, tourism services, and distribution. Covering approximately 10,800 square meters, it includes a 5,500 square meter basement that functions as a distribution parking lot.
▲ Location Map
Traditional Dwellings, Contemporary Reconstruction
This project is not just a “living room” welcoming visitors from all walks of life but also an expression of local character and regional culture. Constructed in a traditional style with a footprint exceeding 5,000 square meters, it is notably large and rare. While maintaining its volume, the design seeks to visually break down the sense of overwhelming mass.
The architecture abstracts the folded roof forms typical of local residential settlements, cascading continuously along the mountain terrain. This approach not only creates a dialogue with traditional architecture at scale but also complements elements such as small blue tiles, rubble walls, and imitation wooden structures. By fragmenting the building into smaller parts, it avoids visual abruptness within the mountainous setting, achieving a harmonious integration.
Forest Living Room, Green Ecology
The diamond-shaped grid system beneath the large roof draws inspiration from the intertwined tree crowns in the forest. This abstracted tree crown pattern translates into a tense architectural structure, becoming the building’s most striking visual feature. The entire structure resembles an artificial forest nestled within the natural woodland, seamlessly blending with the densely forested slopes behind it. This perfectly aligns with the concept of a “forest oxygen bar living room.”
▲ Forest Inspiration
▲ Analysis of Multiple Grid Structures
The 45-degree interwoven pattern of the eaves truss system echoes the black-and-white latitude and longitude intersections found in the She ethnic ribbon motifs. Drawing from local ethnic crafts, the design reinterprets traditional culture through contemporary architecture.
▲ She Ethnic Pattern
Perched atop the hill and emerging from the forest, this building may become a new landmark for tourism in Wencheng.
Magnificent Arch of Wooden Eaves
The arch of wooden architecture is a distinctive feature of traditional Chinese buildings, allowing eaves to extend dramatically through layered stacking. This is a hallmark of Chinese architectural form. The tree-like supporting structures under the eaves of this project extend in layers, supporting the overhangs and serving as an abstraction and simplification of the traditional arch of wooden architecture. The deep double eaves pay homage to this traditional architectural heritage.
The sheltered grey space beneath the eaves offers a comfortable public area for visitors. With views facing the mountains and overlooking distant peaks, it provides an excellent setting for relaxation and conversation. On the side facing the provincial road, the Qingtian Jade Carving Craftsmen’s Creative Workshop and Fine Art Tea House have quietly opened. The plaza in front combines water features and various plants, creating an inviting public gathering space.
The living room of Wencheng Forest Oxygen Bar Town represents a design effort to harmonize architecture with its environment. The building’s unique character is rooted in its environmental context. By exploring traditional materials and construction techniques and integrating local craftsmanship and historical technologies into the design strategy, this project seeks the most fitting way to situate architecture within a natural environment that evolves throughout the seasons alongside the region’s cultural traditions.
Project Drawings
▲ Basement Floor Plan
▲ First Floor Plan
▲ Second Floor Plan
▲ Roof Plan
▲ Roof Structure
▲ Grid Plan
▲ Elevation View
▲ Section View
▲ Axonometric Diagram
Project Information
Project type: Tourist Attraction
Location: Wenzhou, China
Architect: GLA Architectural Design
Area: 10,800 m²
Completion Year: 2019
Photographer: Yao Li
Manufacturers: Shanghai Yaopi Original Sheet, Anji Tianchi Bamboo Wood Industry, Anhui Andetao Ecological Ceramics, Shandong Qiaofeng Stone, Zhejiang Zhongzhi Aluminum Industry, Zhejiang Jiansheng Steel Structure
Design Team: Song Ping, Xing Mingquan, Zhu Feng, Shen Xiaofeng
Structural Engineers: Xu Lingfeng, Xie Daoqing, Li Jianjun
Equipment Team: Zhou Jian, Feng Jianhua, Guo Zhou, Xia Shizhen, Sheng Jianping, Huang Guohua
Landscape Consultant: Li Shangyang
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