Suzi Beauty Rely by Kong Xiangwei Studio: A Sculptural Bench Intertwining Nature, Art, and Human Connection

Inspired by Cultural Poetics and Natural Form

Rooted deeply in the poetic traditions of Chinese classical literature, the project draws inspiration from Su Dongpo’s verses, which often juxtapose the steadfastness of pine and cypress trees with the fluidity of water. These dualities—hardness and softness, stillness and movement—are woven into the conceptual DNA of the Suzi Beauty Rely installation. In Chinese culture, the pine tree has long transcended its botanical identity, symbolizing resilience, moral fortitude, and a connection to the spiritual realm.

Rather than designing a standalone object, the architect chose to work with the landscape, transforming the pine trees into living structural supports. Much like Yuan Mei’s famed “Six Pine Pavilion,” which utilized natural trunks as architectural pillars, Suzi Beauty Rely reinterprets this historical narrative with a contemporary lens—creating a circular sculptural seat that curves between the trunks of eight naturally aligned pines.

The Beauty Seat (Meiren Kao): A Contemporary Ode to Classical Chinese Furniture

The seating element, affectionately referred to as the “Beauty Rely” (Meiren Kao), references a traditional furniture type often found in classical gardens—a resting place for quiet contemplation and poetic expression. It is a nod to serene moments: a beauty reclining under a pavilion, streamside, immersed in thought.

By interweaving steel bars among the pine trees, the structure emerges not just as a bench, but as a fluid spatial gesture—an elegant loop that echoes the dynamic flow of nature while providing functional utility. The curved steel outlines define both the backrest and the boundaries of the seat, seamlessly integrating structure, sculpture, and landscape.

Sculpting with Steel: Materiality and Craft in Rural Construction

In contrast to urban architecture's obsession with perfection, this installation champions site-specific spontaneity and rural craftsmanship. The design process was intuitive and collaborative, relying on the hands-on knowledge of local craftsmen. Without rigid construction drawings, the form was shaped directly on-site, with the steel bars bent and positioned using muscle memory, spatial sensitivity, and iterative experimentation.

Steel bars—typically hidden within concrete in conventional building—are here exposed in all their raw elegance. Bars with diameters between 10–16 mm were used to achieve strength, flexibility, and sculptural finesse, while thinner bars added lightweight flow. These bars danced between the pine trunks, supported at key junctures, and formed a continuous ribbon through space—a delicate balance of rigidity and grace.

Collaboration and Craftsmanship: Designing with People

The project also reflects the spirit of rural collaboration, where architecture is born from deep conversations with local builders, not imposed from above. As Kong Xiangwei notes, true success lies in embracing uncertainty, allowing space for improvisation, and recognizing the contributions of artisans who understand material behavior intimately.

This organic design-build process creates architecture that breathes with its environment, one that evolves through trial, error, and mutual trust between designer and maker.

Bridging Art, Nature, and Community

More than just a bench, Suzi Beauty Rely serves as a social sculpture—a gathering point where nature, art, and humanity converge. It invites people of all ages to sit, play, perform, or simply reflect. Children clamber over it like a playground, couples take photos beneath its canopy, and dancers perform under the filtered light of the pine forest.

With its rhythmic curves and forest setting, the installation becomes a living artwork—a site of seasonal transformation and daily use. It frames the landscape, turning a quiet grove into a stage for spontaneous performance and community connection.

Suzi Beauty Rely exemplifies a form of site-responsive, culturally embedded design that transcends conventional boundaries between sculpture, furniture, and architecture. Rooted in tradition, yet crafted with contemporary sensibility, it shows how even the smallest interventions can enrich public space, awaken cultural memory, and reconnect people with nature.

All Photographs are works of Archi Translator