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Located in the Canyon area of eastern Beijing, this project was developed in response to local needs to create a learning space that fosters villagers' innovative thinking and handicraft skills.
Situated at the base of a cliff and adjacent to a villagers' mountain trail, the design adopted a sustainable ecological construction plan from the outset to minimize disruption to the original topography and vegetation.
Creativity serves as the project's core mission,inspiring both individual and collective growth while fostering village-based innovation. As a public initiative, it cultivates villagers' creative capacities, promotes educational equity in rural areas, and functions as a cultural tourism destination - ultimately enhancing the vibrancy of public community spaces.
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The site presented multiple challenges: the cliff and mountain formed natural barriers, requiring the structure to avoid rockfall zones while controlling excavation to maintain geological stability. The adjacent narrow mountain path limited construction equipment access, prompting lightweight and prefabricated components. Additionally, the humid mountain climate demanded enhanced moisture and decay resistance for the timber structure.
The design treats walls and roof as a unified three-dimensional whole, maintaining continuity between surfaces. Southern pine boards were arranged using parametric design to create self-draining cladding units. Strategically placed windows invite natural light while framing mountain views, forming an open façade that connects with dynamic interior spaces.
The project achieves sustainability and carbon reduction through reversible construction, material circularity, low-impact construction, and quantifiable carbon benefits. Modular Prefabrication and Rapid Assembly,Reversible Construction and Material Circularity,Low-Carbon Performance Metrics.
Construction adhered to low-carbon principles throughout. The primary structure uses a CLT beam-frame system with lightweight timber framing, ensuring both structural efficiency and low-carbon performance despite budget constraints. Modular prefabrication and on-site bolted connections improved efficiency, while reversible metal joints allow future disassembly and recycling,completing the main structure in just 20 days.
Award Winning for Iconic Award 2025 Innovative Architecture.
1. In-Situ Design：The project’s innovative solutions stem from a strong foundation of site-specific design. A year before formal planning began, the design team immersed themselves in the rural context, engaging in continuous dialogue and collaboration with villagers and local authorities to deepen their understanding of the site’s unique “local identity.” It explored the relationship between rural public architecture, ecology, and community, ultimately activating cultural vitality and advancing educational equity.
2. Climate Adaptability：Located in an ecological valley, the site faced risks of rockfall and required vegetation preservation. The design employed lightweight timber structures and cross-laminated timber (CLT) to minimize excavation and foundation load.
3. Low-carbon Construction：Constrained by narrow access paths and a limited budget, the team adopted modular prefabrication and reversible construction techniques. CLT beams and frames were factory-prefabricated, assembled on-site with bolts, and completed within 20 days. Reversible metal connectors allowed future disassembly and recycling, minimizing waste.
4. Social Engagement through Space：The architecture breaks traditional classroom boundaries with multiple entrances and an open façade. Functioning as both a skills-training workshop and a tourist landmark, this public innovation hub empowers community cultural vitality and promotes educational equity.
Inclusive Design for Educational Equity and Cultural Activation As a public-interest innovation workshop, the project breaks the exclusivity of traditional educational spaces through a "multi-entry + open façade" design, inviting diverse groups—villagers, tourists, and children—to freely engage. It also establishes an equitable curriculum system, including "Master Classes" and "Handicraft Workshops," while fostering a collaborative platform among government, universities and village.
Established in 2017, Hapitat Architects is a Beiiingbased multidisciplinary desigrstudio. As an open collaborative team, the studio places ecological and social sustainability at the heart of its practice.Guided by a design philosophy rooted in locality and openness, Hapitat Architects prioritizes the dynamic interplay between space and time, emphasizing how design actively engages with the evolving context of a site. Their work explores the enduring transformation of environments, advocating for solutions that remain sensitive to both natural and societal narratives.
