Seashore Chapel

Vector Architects have designed a simple, contemplative, spiritual space extending into the air above a beach on the Bohai Sea.

Approached from the shore via a long, thin, concrete path the chapel presents a narrow, elongated profile with it’s steeply pitched roof rising above a flight of stairs. A centrally positioned rectangular aperture opens directly through the entire structure extending one’s view to the horizon beyond.

Ascending the stairs to where one may enter through double wooden doors one comes beneath a porch formed by the opening of a vertical slit to separate it from the body of the chapel. This porch is adorned with a single bell on a cross beam just below its apex.

Entering one finds a wall crossing most of the width of the chamber with a single central slit offering a view to the simple iron cross at the far end. Rounding the wall one enters the church proper, a simple space of 14m x 7m ending in a rectangular picture window facing directly out to sea. Rows of plain, wooden benches on either side of fer seating for visitors while a lectern set to one side provides a position from which they might be addressed without disrupting their view.

Lighting is thoughtfully controlled, with daylight appearing through various openings glazed with stained glass creating subtle plays of colour and shadow as the sun passes overhead.

To one side a narrow passage gives entry to a smaller space, once again ending with a view towards the sea, permitting a single visitor to stand alone in contemplation.

The inner and outer walls alike are of the same rough white concrete: textured enough to feel weather-worn , refined enough to present the chapel’ s delicate form.

Viewed from the sides the bulk of the chapel stands on thin legs seemingly unsupported but for the steps at the landward end. It appears to drift somewhere just above the horizon, at once both of the sea and of the land.

Beneath the body of the chapel a space is created where beach goers can gather, rest in the shade or pause to take in the view.

Architects: Vector Architects
Location: Nandaihe, Hebei
Client: Beijing Rocfly Investment (Group) CO., LTD
Project Year: 2015
Area: 270.0 sqm
Principal Architect: Gong Dong
Design Team: Dongping Sun , Yi Chi Wang, Jiahe Zhang
link

Cloud Pavilion

The current Cloud Pavilion is a reinvention of a temporary version originally built in 2013 as part of the Shanghai West Bund Biennial for Architecture and Contemporary Art. While broadly maintaining the form, structure and concept of the original, the new pavilion is a permanent structure which succeeds both as sculptural object and practical event space.

The pavilion consists two horizontal rectangular slabs, forming the floor and ceiling, separated by a grid of thin vertical metal rods which surround an inner cloud-shaped space defined by a wall of curved glass. Within the cloud chamber a single column clad in wood contains a second interior space and access to the pavilion’s lighting controls etc. The entire ceiling within the glass wall is white and, but for a narrow strip around the edge, can be lit from behind filling the space with an even, diffuse light, and illuminating the pavilion as part of the night scenery along the river’s edge.

Occupying a former industrial site, symbolised by cranes preserved on the riverside, and now hosting a variety of activity spaces – a landscaped section of former railway line, skatepark, basketball courts, bouldering wall – the surrounding West Bund area is being thoroughly redeveloped with contributions from numerous Chinese and international architects.

Architect: Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
Local architect: Tongji Architectural Design Institute
Location: Shanghai
Client: West Bund Development Corporation
Commission: 2015
Construction: May to July 2016
Area: 150 sqm
link

Taiyang Farming Commune

The Taiyang Organic Commune, located in a small valley amongst mountains to the west of Hangzhou, is a natural village of 140 households.

A series of small temporary structures were required. Local and natural materials were used, along with labour from the commune village. The structures needed to be economical and sustainable, as well as quick to assemble. The architects worked with local farmers to build structures suitable for farming use. Three bamboo structures have been realised: a pigsty, a hen house and a pavilion.

Extensive consultation with farmers during the design process concerning the animals’ habits and needs has resulted in a design which facilitates greater productivity with traditional breeds.

Architects: Atelier Chen Haoru
Client: Taiyang Organic Farming Commune
Team: Chen Haoru / Xie Chenyun / Ma Chenglong / Wang Chunwei / Zhu Xiaolong / Gu Anjie
Design: 2013
Completion: 2014
Programme: pigsty / hen house / pavilion
Area: pigsty 256sqm / hen house 130sqm / pavilion 120 sum
Materials: Bamboo, thatch

Anaya Pavilion

For the Anaya development in Qinhuangdao Dayun designed this pavilion encapsulating two show homes. On a platform slightly raised above the street level the pavilion joins the two show homes surrounding each with a cloistered walkway and separating the two with a gravelled courtyard and shallow pool of water. Space is divided with arches, columns and walls, varying the degree of openness to the surrounding landscaped garden, while roof apertures add an additional dimension and variety to the play of light on the structure throughout the day.

  • Architect: Dayun Design International
  • Location: Nandaihe
  • Completion: 2017
images and text copyright © Peter Dixie All Rights Reserved