Woven Passage to Cloudy Peaks & Sky Ring by line+ studio

Set within the mountainous landscape of Xiayanbei Village in Shaoxing, China, Woven Passage to Cloudy Peaks and Sky Ring by line+ studio form the first phase of an ambitious rural revitalization project inside the 19 Peaks Scenic Area. Completed in 2023, the twin interventions respond to the pressing realities of contemporary rural development: limited land, modest budgets, ecological fragility, and cultural homogenization, while crafting a powerful new identity rooted in local memory and future-oriented design.

Rather than relying on conventional signage or monumental architecture, the project introduces a nuanced strategy described as “grounded localization and elevated differentiation.” Together, the two structures act as both a symbolic gateway and a landmark, redefining how visitors arrive, experience, and remember the village landscape.

Reimagining the Village Entrance Through Craft and Landscape

Historically lacking a clear entrance, Xiayanbei Village is accessed via a winding mountain road connecting Houdaishan and the village itself. At a critical curve along this route, Woven Passage to Cloudy Peaks replaces signage with an experiential architectural threshold, transforming arrival into a spatial journey.

The intervention also addresses environmental damage caused by road construction, which disrupted natural mountain slopes, led to soil erosion, and destabilized vegetation despite the presence of retaining walls. Positioned strategically along this scarred terrain, the passage functions as both an entrance marker and an ecological repair, restoring the mountain’s continuity while stabilizing the slope.

Material Intelligence and Structural Innovation

Closely following the existing topography, the passage integrates with terraced retaining walls and reconstructs the original mountain slope using natural, locally appropriate materials. Internally, the structure celebrates traditional bamboo weaving techniques, supported by a primary wooden framework that enhances visual tension while preserving regional craftsmanship.

Externally, the passage is clad in dark schist stone, allowing it to visually dissolve into the surrounding mountainscape. This material strategy ensures that the architecture does not dominate the landscape but instead becomes part of it.

Structurally, the project presented significant challenges due to its doubly curved wooden geometry. The design team conducted precise calculations for shear strength, torsional resistance, and inflection points within the glulam system. Using parametric modeling tools such as Rhino and Revit, each component’s curvature and position were optimized. The structure was fabricated from 13mm-thick Douglas fir, CNC-processed, pre-assembled, and later clad in stainless steel mesh and schist panels by local craftsmen, bridging advanced digital design with hands-on construction.

Sky Ring: A Floating Landmark and Climatic Instrument

Complementing the grounded passage, Sky Ring introduces an elevated and technologically driven landmark at the heart of Xiayanbei’s tea fields. Village activities such as hiking, cloud watching, camping, and mountain viewing are deeply dependent on weather conditions. Sky Ring responds to this reality by functioning simultaneously as a visual icon, communal gathering space, and real-time weather indicator.

The structure takes the form of a helium-supported ring, with a 30-meter outer diameter and a 5.5-meter inner opening. Anchored by 16 cables, it ascends to a tethered height of up to 25 meters under favorable wind conditions. When weather deteriorates, the system automatically retracts and secures itself through a network of inner and outer cables, ensuring safety and durability.

Constructed from 66 laminated fabric composite panels, heat-sealed and filled with helium, the Sky Ring incorporates an internal auxiliary airbag to stabilize pressure. Integrated avionics and data systems collect meteorological information, offering accurate forecasts while reinforcing the structure’s role as a functional “weather balloon.” At night, 33 RGBW LED lights transform the ring into a glowing beacon, enriching rural nightlife and creating a striking nocturnal identity for the village.

Anchoring Memory While Shaping the Future

Together, Woven Passage to Cloudy Peaks and Sky Ring articulate a thoughtful balance between cultural memory and future innovation. The passage embodies grounding: rooted in landscape, craft, and material continuity: while the Sky Ring represents aspiration, technology, and new forms of collective experience.

This dual strategy not only reshapes Xiayanbei Village’s physical environment but also opens up new economic, social, and cultural possibilities for its residents. As a destination landmark and daily communal space, the project demonstrates how small-scale, precise architectural interventions can generate lasting impact within rural contexts.

All photographs are works of Arch-Exist, line+ studio