Junshan Island is a small island situated in Dongting Lake. Each year during the dry season, the mudflats north of Junshan become covered with reeds that stretch several kilometers to the lakeshore, forming an extensive reed marsh. Local organizers have established a creative venue here and invited artists to work onsite.
Walking through the reed marsh feels like diving beneath the rolling surface of the sea. Towering reeds surround you, obscuring the view, while tiny, intense beams of light filter through from all sides. As the temperature rises, moving forward becomes increasingly challenging. I begin to feel my own desires and physical needs. What am I searching for? It’s like seeking an anchor or a shelter where I can find stability. The idea of a “mountain” came to mind — a large structure to gaze at and look up to. The weight of this material mass would offer constant support to the creatures inhabiting this place.
The concept of the “mountain” as a spatial element has a poetic resonance with the roofs of traditional Chinese architecture. This inspired me to begin my design with the notion of “covering” a roof, leading to the discovery of a fitting geometric prototype.
To create a sense of ultimate lightness and floating, the design reduces the support points for each curved surface to just three: diagonal columns at each end and a central “cross” column made from five square steel beams. Horizontal steel beams are pre-embedded underground and welded to the vertical supports, enhancing structural stability and preventing subsidence.
For the first time, reed mats were used as the primary material for this installation. Their natural, primitive texture masks the industrial precision of the internal steel framework. The reed mats function almost like preserved plant specimens, maintaining the original shape and structure of the reeds. Pressed by machines, the reed flowers and leaves transform from light, fragile plants into a dense, high-quality surface. This contrast creates a powerful visual tension that exceeded my expectations. There is no perfect material; the only certainty in creation is the presence of uncertainty.
A large, curved structure stands at the center of a circular field. The gaps between its curved surfaces allow wind, rain, and light to enter, as well as providing access for all living beings. The mountain’s exterior is spacious and bright, inviting people to sit, lie down, and enjoy the surrounding scenery. Inside, it is calm and offers a sense of shelter, making it ideal for meditation and solitude. The ground surrounding and within the mountain is covered with reeds, while steel columns elevate the entire structure, creating a floating effect. This floating quality blends the internal space of the mountain seamlessly with its natural environment.
Project Drawings
△ Location Diagram
△ Analysis Chart
△ Hand-drawn Sketch
△ Hand-drawn Sketch
△ Structural Schematic
△ Structural Schematic
△ Structural Schematic
△ Analysis Chart
Project Information
Architect: Du Yang Studio
Area: 220m²
Project Year: 2023
Lead Designer: Du Yang
Client: Yueyang City Urban Investment Group
Location: Yueyang
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