By using ArchDaily, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

If you want to make the best of your experience on our site, sign-up.

By using ArchDaily, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

If you want to make the best of your experience on our site, sign-up.

Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio

Save

Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - Image 2 of 22Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - Image 3 of 22Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - Image 4 of 22Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - Image 5 of 22Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - More Images+ 17

  • Architects: Qing Studio
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  226
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2024
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Yilong Zhao
  • Design Team: Hu Xing, Liu Changming, Hu Yi, Li Zhe, Yan Chunyang, Luo Tingkai, Tang Ziji
  • Deepening Design: Hu Yi, Hubei Pursue Commercial Management Co., Ltd.
  • Construction: Zhou Jun, Wuhan Jingpengxiang Membrane Structure Engineering Co., Ltd.
  • Client: Suizhou Yuexiongfeng Ecological Agriculture Co., Ltd.
  • City: Suizhou
  • Country: China
More SpecsLess Specs
Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - Image 2 of 22
© Yilong Zhao

1. Terraced Tea-Oil Gardens: From "Idyllic Pastoral" to "Robust Structures"
In Huan Tan Town, Suixian County, thousands of acres of tea-oil gardens were cultivated through terraced farming. Here, the beauty of the landscape derives not only from nature's craftsmanship but also from the marks of human activity. Contemporary rural beauty is no longer merely pastoral poetry; amidst mountains and rivers, there are also various robust infrastructural megastructures: the lines of terraces, the contours of water reservoirs, and the upright forms of transmission towers.

Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - Image 3 of 22
© Yilong Zhao

These elements serve as tools for production and life, yet they also emerge as new landscape symbols. In their raw simplicity, they reveal a sense of utility and strength, showcasing the authenticity of human interaction with nature. On this land, human intervention and natural forms no longer oppose but instead complement and depend on each other. The definition of "landscape" has expanded to a technological system where humans wrestle with, yet coexist with, nature.

Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - Image 15 of 22
© Yilong Zhao

2. Irrigation Reservoir: From "Aerial Perspective" to "Human Connection"
The reservoir resembles a giant circular mirror, quietly embedded among the mountains, reflecting the shifting sky and clouds. Its beauty is profound yet untouchable, belonging to the eyes of drones and the divine, inaccessible to human proximity. To bring this aerial reflection closer to human experience, a large triangular staircase was introduced. Its width tapers from 6 meters at the base to 600mm at the top, with mirror-polished stainless steel risers. The mirrored surfaces give the impression of water cascading down the steps, carrying the rippling reflections of sky and mountain onto the vertical facade, allowing even those at the foot of the mountain to witness this otherworldly illusion.

Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - Image 4 of 22
© Yilong Zhao
Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - Image 5 of 22
© Yilong Zhao

Climbing the staircase to the reservoir's summit, visitors find themselves on a walkway that leads to the reservoir's center. Entering this circular frame, their gaze aligns with the water's surface, where mountain shadows and human reflections intertwine. The vast mirrored surface beneath seems to penetrate the observer's inner world, washing away any restlessness and noise, leaving only clarity.
Suspending the water-level walkway is a large circular structure set at a 45-degree angle to the reservoir. Beyond its structural purpose, it channels the reservoir's water into an arched spray, nourishing the surrounding land. Rising mist and rippling waves romantically visualize the reservoir's irrigation function.

Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - Image 16 of 22
© Yilong Zhao
Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - Interior Photography
© Yilong Zhao

3. Fire Lookout Tower: From "Observation Post" to "Community Hub"
The fire lookout tower, once a solitary and austere observation post, stands on a mountaintop, guarding the safety of the tea mountains. The tower's slender form is upright yet commanding, like a thumbtack pinning itself into the vast landscape. Around this structure, a 12-meter-diameter circular base with two layers of seating was added, enhancing the tower's anchoring effect within the site through horizontal circularity that contrasts its vertical stance. This design draws attention and footsteps inward, creating a sense of calm cohesion.
To provide shelter for the expanded base, a steel frame was cantilevered from the tower's original structure, supporting a semi-transparent membrane. This veil-like material lends a softened texture to the steel megastructure, resembling a skirt cascading from the top of the tower and halting mid-air at a height of 2.1 meters. The membrane cuts the surrounding mountain scenery into a continuous panoramic band, framing it like a long scroll.

Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - Image 9 of 22
© Yilong Zhao

Today, the lookout tower has evolved into an essential communal space for the tea mountains. With seating, lighting, and an open square, tea farmers from near and far gather here, their lively conversations and the crisp sounds of tea fruits drying filling the air day and night. The fire lookout tower has transformed from a distant "eye" into a bustling gathering place, not only anchoring the site physically but also forging deeper connections between people and the land.

Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio - Exterior Photography
© Yilong Zhao

Project gallery

See allShow less

Project location

Address:Huan Tan Town, Suixian County, Hubei Province, China

Click to open map
Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Suixian Agricultural Infrastructure Renovation / Qing Studio" 14 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed 30 Dec 2024. <https://www.archdaily.com/1024583/suixian-agricultural-infrastructure-renovation-qing-studio> ISSN 0719-8884
Saint-Gobain is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to or reliance on any information contained on this site. No guarantee is given by Saint-Gobain that the information is correct, complete or up-to-date or will not infringe any copyright or other intellectual property right and Saint-Gobain does not endorse any of the information contained on this site. Although the ArchDaily website may provide links to other internet resources, including web sites, Saint-Gobain is not responsible for the accuracy or content of information in these sites. Links from the ArchDaily website to third-party sites do not constitute an endorsement by Saint-Gobain of the parties or their products or services.

© Yilong Zhao

随县农业基础设施改造 / 青微舍工作室

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.