Shanghai-based architecture practice MONOARCHI has designed four rounded spring huts that are scattered within the deep woods in the southeast corner of Tangshan Mountain in Nanjing, China. 

Named Spring Huts in Tangshan, the 220-square-metre project comprises four separate living units that open up the views towards this mesmerizing forest.

Scattered irregularly at a 5,000-square-metre site on a hill, the site has one side of stacked rocks, standing out as a solitary island from the woods. 

Considering the geomorphic features of the site, the architects preferred to choose the four most distinctive locations to place the four huts, from hiding in the deep woods, to gradually transitioning into the stone-piled land.

The studio preserved the original landform and existing vegetation and considered the interaction between the building and the surrounding environment. 

Upon the different locations of the cabins and the awe of nature, the architects aimed to create two completely different interesting forms. 

"Passing through the loose bushes, the plank path of the site bypasses the jungle and the rocks, sometimes it encounters isolated trees and strange rocks, and surpasses them by simply opening holes. The winding path connects the four independent huts like the vein of a leaf," said MONOARCHI.

One shape of the huts is inspired by the circling vines in the forests. The spaces inside the hut includes a living room, a bedroom and a bathroom that are defined by the emptiness offered by nature. The rounded form the huts is perceived from inside as the inside gives a fluid space arrangement. 

The covered bridge, formed by slides and steps crosses the narrow gap between the trees, either gentle or steep, winding the three main rooms into a complete building.

For the outer façade, the architects used huge glass windows for each room break through the shackles of the facade, facing different angles and heights, revealing the different characters of the indoor spaces when in contact with nature.

Guests can look at the scenery of distant mountains, or admire the wild plants around the building, they can also walk to the terrace and touch the new leaves from the trees. 

"The curly shape enclosed an irregular patio, and a 5 square meter hot spring pool is opened next to the preserved trees, a place to experience the landscape and warmth created by nature," added the architects. 

The facade facing the patio is designed completely transparent, people can enjoy the beautiful view from the pool.

The architects entangled other two huts with the rocks. The team used the flat-lying stones as the foundation of the hut; while the sharp cliffs tear apart the direct connection between the functional spaces, digesting the silhouette of the hut into the nature-like branches. 

The scale of each branch of the building is defined by functions, the bedroom, and the living room face nature, while the restroom is visually blocked from the outside.

The studio added that "The two huts are designed in different forms due to different contexts: one is hidden between the rocks and the woods, its windows are opened for closer views; the other one is exposed above the rocks, leaning against a tree and huge rock cliffs." 

Therefore the architects opened a skylight for the user to look up into the starry sky in the night. 

The living room and the surrounding space enclosed by the rocks are paved with off-white terrazzo. When the pool is filled with spring, you can experience the joy of the rough texture of nature and the delicateness of man-made materials.

The indoor space is the inward extension of the exterior. The rounded chamfer and the same oak blurred the boundary between the ground, the wall, and the roof. The main furniture continues the free curves and plays an important part in the interior.

The four huts share similar forms but express different attitudes toward nature with different materials: the two huts in the woods use charcoal wood like the skin, hiding from the lush greenery; the other two are exposed on the rocks and the edge of the woods, warping themselves with original woods and stitching themselves into the natural environment.

Masterplan

Axonometric

Axonometric

Axonometric

Axonometric

Project facts

Project name: Spring Huts in Tangshan

Architects: MONOARCHI

Location: Nanjing, China. 

Size: 220m2 

Date: 2021 

All images courtesy of MONOARCHI.

> via MONOARCHI