Tower Pavilion in Paddy Fields by Jumping House Lab: A Landmark of Community, Culture, and Contemporary Design

The Tower Pavilion in Paddy Fields, designed by Jumping House Lab, stands as a striking landmark in Hangzhou, China. Completed in 2022, this 100m² structure transforms an ordinary platform within rice fields into a multi-functional community space—serving as a pop-up bubble tea shop, gathering spot, and cultural pavilion.

By blending lightweight tensile architecture, steel framing, and a tent-like form, the pavilion not only provides shade and rest but also creates a symbolic tower that redefines the relationship between villagers, visitors, and the agricultural landscape.

From Land Art Festival to Permanent Pavilion

The site’s history is rooted in a 2019 Land Art Festival, where installations were dispersed across the fields but lacked places for pause or social gathering. The client envisioned a seven-day bubble tea shop during China’s National Day holiday, but the architects saw an opportunity to design something permanent—a structure that could serve both tourists and local villagers long after the festival ended.

The goal: create a space for people to rest, gather, and connect, whether meeting new friends or reuniting with old ones.

A Pavilion, a Tower, and a Tent

The pavilion sits on a 10m x 10m platform intersected by a T-shaped pedestrian path, with a functional irrigation pool at its center. Instead of covering or removing the pool, the architects embraced it—placing the operation core (tea shop service area) directly above, and designing surrounding open areas for seating and gatherings.

The design combines three symbolic forms:

• Pavilion – a place for rest and shade.
• Tower – a vertical landmark visible from afar.
• Tent – a lightweight, semi-transparent canopy.

Four small circular windows face different directions, inviting light, views, and curiosity. Visitors can climb the tower for elevated views of the surrounding paddies, while those below enjoy the shaded communal space.

Rapid Construction: 25 Days of Design & Build

With only 25 days to complete the project, the team designed and built simultaneously. A steel structure formed the pavilion’s stable core, anchored into the ground beneath the pool. Tensile membranes and cables connected this core to the platform’s edges, shaping the tent-like canopy.

This lightweight construction method ensured speed, efficiency, and elegance, resulting in a structure that balances functionality, cultural symbolism, and visual impact.

A Pop-Up Bubble Tea Shop in the Fields

The pavilion opened as a bubble tea shop during the National Day holiday, instantly becoming a magnet for villagers, tourists, and families. Visitors climbed, gathered, chatted, and relaxed—embodying the architects’ vision of a place where diverse activities could unfold naturally.

The circular layout encouraged different types of gatherings:

• Shaded corners under trees for cool respite.
• Wide-open sides for larger groups and events.
• Elevated viewpoints from the tower for scenic appreciation.

At night, the glowing pavilion became a “lighthouse in the paddy fields,” drawing people to share tea, conversations, and cultural exchange.

Beyond Seven Days: A Community Tea House

Although originally intended for a week-long installation, the pavilion continues to serve the community. Local students gather there after school, art groups have hosted exhibitions, and villagers envision future uses—from a communal tea house to a barbecue shop.

All Photographs are works of  Qingshan Wu