International Architecture Awards Tell a friend
ARCHIVE 2025
International Architecture Awards
Architects: LUO studio
Design Team: Luo Yujie, Wang Beilei, Cao Yutao, Huang Shangwan, Zhang Chen
General Contractor: Henan Shancheng Construction Engineering Co., Ltd
Client: People’s Government of Huanfeng Town, Xiuwu County
Photographers: Jin Weiqi
Through conducting on-site research on the processing techniques of Rehmannia roots, the design team discovered that the tradition of cooking Rehmannia roots can be traced back to ancient Chinese physician Sun Simiao's "nine steaming and nine sun-drying" methodology, which involved continuous cooking and drying processes linked to "sunlight." This unique traditional pharmaceutical process is a pivotal concept in shaping the Exhibition Hall's space, which emphasizes an enriched light environment. Light becomes the central theme of the building, generating dynamic changes both inside and outside. This is the fundamental starting point for the design.
The centrally symmetrical circular plane is well-suited for the exhibition space. The visiting circulation is a key consideration for the internal space organization of the exhibition hall. It is essential to ensure a logically arranged circulation route, to avoid overlaps or detours. The project adopts a nearly circular plane, forming an inscribed circle with a diameter of 37 meters. The periphery of the inscribed circle becomes the circulation route for visitors. Such a layout strategy can effectively streamline subsequent work in exhibition arrangement and thus reduce cost, which is essential in rural construction.
The sustainable concept inherent in traditional wooden construction is noteworthy, which aligns with “Reduce” in the 3R principle and is specifically embodied by the “furniture as structure” methodology. An illustrative example is the clay-shaping rooms of ancient kilns in Jingdezhen, still in use today. These constructions utilize Chuandou timber frames as the structural system, where the columns are carved out with mortises for inserting small wooden beams, above which divider panels are then placed. These panels serve as platforms for shaped clay in the drying process. This practice reflects local construction wisdom, resonating with the ethos of cherishing resources. It not only saves materials and space, but also integrates structure, furniture, and space into a whole.
Inspired by such traditional construction wisdom, the project transforms traditional large-section columns into small-section column arrays, which are then stacked vertically and horizontally to secure secondary small wooden beams. Panels are subsequently laid on the small beams for holding items. These component groups, which are both structures and functional shelves, define a unique space.
Small column array groups were assembled side by side in the form of standardized modular units, offering two advantages in rural construction:
1)Large sections and heavier material rods typically demand large machinery for hoisting during construction. However, rural roads, characterized by narrow pathways, slopes, and depressions, pose challenges for the navigation of large equipment. Breaking down the structural system into small components facilitated manual movement, allowing villagers to participate in and organize the construction themselves.
2)The construction method involving standardized modular units enhanced processing and assembly efficiency, leading to significant savings in manpower and material resources. This approach is particularly well-suited for construction in rural settings.
In the case of a circular dome, straightening rods from the arc points to the center of the circle could result in a densely structured central node. This could complicate the connection between the rods, requiring complicated central connecting components and high costs in processing and hoisting. Moreover, the 37m-diameter span of the entire building necessitates daylighting in the middle. To address these challenges, the design team conceived a structure in which the rods are mutually supportive and are connected in a spirally circular formation. This approach eliminates situations where two members share an endpoint, thereby avoiding the creation of hinged nodes. The wooden beams support each other in a spiral, distributing pressure, overlapping, and ultimately forming a continuous and complete stress system.
