MAD architects: huangshan mountain village, china
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'huangshan mountain village' by MAD architects, anhui, china
image © MAD architects
chinese practice MAD architects has just released the plans for the 'huangshan mountain village' in the yellow mountains of central china. being a place of natural beauty and its fair share of mystery, the residential complex aims to give the user a quiet peaceful place where they may not only view the landscape but somehow reflect upon it and introspect in the recently declared world heritage site. the complex, a series of stacked planes molded with rounded edges, mirrors the surrounding topography to become an almost indiscernible mesh between the natural and the man-made. the village will provide private housing with 700 individual units, a hotel and their respective public amenities throughout the many linked structural nodes. each apartment, accessible through a smaller scale public space, is made up of local building materials and contains a balcony overlooking the nearby lake taiping offering a meditative home for the owner. the construct creates its own environment, inviting residents and visitors alike to explore all the views or wander off into the forest on one of the many paths that branch out from the building.
founder ma yansong describes their approach to the design:
'the impression we have of taiping lake in huangshan is vague: each visit to this place yields different views, different impressions. a bit mysterious, like ancient landscape paintings, never based on realism but rather, the imagination. this vague feeling is always poetic; it is obscure and indistinct. this is the basic idea; we hope that residents will not just look at the scenery, but see themselves in relation to this environment, attention that is brought inward. in observing oneself one perhaps begins to notice a different self than the one present in the city.'
erected as an extension of the natural landscape
image © MAD architects
a network of paths connect each of the several nodes of private residences and hotel rooms
image © MAD architects
image © MAD architects
bridges create lookout points to the nearby lake and mountains
image © MAD architects
meditative spaces offer areas of peace and reflection
image © MAD architects
model
image © MAD architects
Heritage? Well, it’s incredibly beautiful, but… what about water piping, sewers, roads, playgrounds, lamp posts and wiring, etc., etc.?
Love love love this concept. (Wiring & piping, etc, what’s that about?)
AWESOME! very similar to this project that a came across http://www.behance.net/gallery/CloudScape/3886057 but a lot more developed. great conceptual work.
Wondering if this is a real project or just some mind wangling.
It would also be interesting to know more about the developer and their way of thinking/working if this is a real project. The simple truth is that unless the developer got some government backing, there’s no way they can get a plot of land to do as they may in the Huangshan mountain range.
IIt is a pity that a world heritage location is destroyed to providee accommodation to 700 families, perhaps even as a second house. I hope China doesn’t follow that path. and this project will never be developed. Congratulations for its beauty anyways.
Too much high rise for the countryside. Building multi-story dwellings in the countryside always sets a bad precedent. Also too much Zaha Hadid style.
Destroying the natures beauty by creating architectural filth….U guys managed good renders at-least Congo
This is a truly obscene idea; a violation of the landscape.
The ugliness and pollution that typifies Chinese cities, not to mention the destruction of historic dwellings to make way for over-scale and hideous luxury hosing, should be confined to the cities.
“mirrors the surrounding topography to become an almost indiscernible mesh between the natural and the man-made.” HA
Great renderings & would be welcomed in a different location. Doesn’t look like it would actually be built, though.
Amazing!
I actually live here Huangshan city of Anhui Province