The project is situated in Fengwu Village, Biyang Town, Yi County, within the scenic Mount Huangshan City. Unlike other well-known cultural villages in Mount Huangshan, Fengwu Village boasts beautiful landscapes but has limited preservation of ancient buildings. Like many rural areas, Fengwu faces challenges such as population decline, aging residents, and inadequate public facilities.
In response, we launched the public welfare initiative “Fengwu Season” in 2023, aiming to revitalize rural life by enhancing villagers’ well-being through small-scale improvements and cultural development. The ‘Canal Corridor Bridge’ is one of the key sub-projects under this initiative.
This project is located along the old canal in the northern part of the village. Built in the 1960s for irrigation, the canal is now abandoned, surrounded by wild natural scenery that embodies the local spirit. At the start of the design process, we engaged with villagers and learned that their strongest memories were of collectively building the old water channel and playing hide and seek there as children.
During interviews, villagers also expressed the need for a shaded space to eat and cool off during the summer. Based on this, we decided to transform this section of the canal into a public covered bridge for daily community use.
To preserve the collective memory of the village, we retained the original structure and weathered traces of the water channel. We then added a lightweight wooden bridge atop the canal. The use of wood pays homage to traditional Huizhou architecture and fosters a closer connection between the new structure and the community.
The “Canal Corridor Bridge” is constructed using factory-prefabricated engineered wood (CLT), chosen for its uniform strength, lightweight nature, high durability, efficient wood usage, and environmental friendliness. The bridge comprises 19 small cross-sectional structural units that form a dense ribbed system wrapping around the old canal.
Each structural unit features two independent sets of intersecting columns that support their individual roofs.
The roof is constructed from lightweight corrugated panels that gently rest atop the wooden framework. Seating along both sides of the bridge includes rows of armchairs at varying heights, offering villagers diverse options for rest and sightseeing.
During construction, all components were designed to be lifted by hand, eliminating the need for heavy machinery. The wooden structural joints connect easily with a single bolt, enabling quick on-site assembly.
The completed corridor bridge not only recalls the village’s unique history but also creates a vibrant gathering space for its future, injecting renewed vitality into the community.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ Plan View
△ Roof Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Axonometric Diagram
△ Structural Detail Analysis Diagram
Project Information
Architect: IARA
Area: 106 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographers: Song Huien, Wu Xinran
Lead Designers: Liu Lubin, Zhang Liangqiu
Design Team: Li Hongrun, Wu Xinran, Luo Lin, Luo Qinming
Technical Support for Wooden Structures: Wuhan Linlangmu Construction Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan Manmu Technology Co., Ltd.
Constructor: Mount Huangshan Dehong Construction Engineering Co., Ltd.
Principal: People’s Government of Biyang Town, Agriculture and Rural Water Resources Bureau of Yixian County
Location: Mount Huangshan
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up