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The project is part of a residential community developed by Anaya Properties. The owner wanted the building to be a meditative space where people who live a fast-paced life in the city can come and forget the hustle and bustle. Because of its proximity to the ruins of the Ancient Great Wall, the plan was to create a good dialogue with the ancient construction culture.
The building is cleverly integrated with the terrain, and the atmosphere of the building is also in dialogue with the ancient Great Wall, making the architectural space into the landscape meditative. The building uses prefabricated carbon fiber as a roofing material, which minimally interferes with the environment during the construction process and brings a sense of traditional architecture.
Terrain Integration: Restoring the site's original topography, once used for coal mining and terraced farming, the building follows mountainous terrain with a 1.6-meter stepped landscape. This integrates the terrain seamlessly into the building's spatial form, blending it harmoniously with the environment.
Landscape Integration: Using original coal mine shafts, the design incorporates local elements. Courtyards and terraces create a rhythmic spatial experience, integrating the valley's landscape for a Zen-like meditation environment.
Community Creation: The Anaya community in Jinshanling near Beijing serves as a mountain retreat for urban residents seeking relaxation and rejuvenation. The Upper Closter stands as the spiritual core of this community, pivotal in its identity and purpose.
Project employs innovative strategies, materials, and technologies for sustainability:
Material Ecology: Locally quarried stone and prefabricated steel reduce transportation energy and environmental impact. Lightweight carbon fiber roofs minimize structural loads.
Construction Ecology: A 3.5cm-thick prefabricated carbon fiber roof, crafted with CNC-carved polyurethane insulation and clad in carbon fiber, was installed in a single day, minimizing environmental disruption.
Landscape Ecology: Integrating the original coal mine shaft and using a 1.6-meter stepped landscape preserves geomorphology. Borrowed scenery incorporates distant natural and human landscapes into the building.
The project's commitment to sustainability and ecological harmony has garnered significant acclaim and recognition.
This project addresses contemporary Chinese societal challenges by providing a space for reflection amidst a fast-paced environment. It repurposes an abandoned handmade coal kiln site near the ancient Great Wall, blending different temporalities to create a new landscape infused with valley culture and time. This approach reimagines the site's spirit and interprets traditional Chinese Zen culture.
The project features China's largest Zen hall with a full carbon fiber roof, innovatively using high-strength polyurethane foam (HDPU) as a sandwich layer. This carbon fiber panel shell integrates structural integrity, aesthetics, and thermal insulation, meeting the need for three-dimensional molding and reducing energy consumption.
Due to mountainous terrain and project constraints, ultra-light carbon fiber was essential. Prefabrication and digital construction strategies enabled rapid on-site installation. Pre-assembled modules reduced on-site labor by 70%, achieving efficient cost and schedule control. The 177m² hyperbolic carbon fiber roof was installed in just 24 hours, showcasing the project's innovative construction approach.
The design of the Upper Cloister integrates natural and historical landscapes into the building and community, conveying a traditional Chinese cultural atmosphere that blends inheritance and innovation. It integrates Zen culture into contemporary spatial design through natural landscapes and modern construction, creating the intended atmosphere efficiently and effectively with minimal capital investment.
Founded in 2001, Atelier Deshaus, a Shanghai-based studio, began by working mainly on public buildings such as kindergartens, schools and museums, attracting international recognition and winning numerous awards. Its co-founders and principal architects now are Liu Yichun and Chen Yifeng.
Listed in the ‘2011 Design Vanguard’ by Architectural Record, Atelier Deshaus achieved acclaim for the Long Museum, winning the Architectural Review’s Award for Emerging Architecture and the Honor Award Best in Show for Architecture 2019 from AIA’s China Chapter, among others. It participated in exhibitions like ‘Alors, La Chine?’ at Centre Pompidou in 2003 and ‘Reuse, Renew, Recycle’ at MoMA in 2022. Solo exhibitions include “Sensitive Urbanity: Atelier Deshaus in Shanghai” at the RIBA London Headquarters in 2022 and “Common Landscape: Re-cultivating Industrial Sites” at the Aedes Architecture Forum in Berlin 2023.
