aurora design sculpts photography art space out of white stone bricks in china

the use of natural materials such as brick, stone, and cork reinforces the connection to the landscape.

AO Zhang edited by thomai tsimpou October 16, 2024 4 min

aurora design lets nature inside their art space in china

Aurora Design’s Shan Ding You Feng project, located by Erhai Lake in Dali, Yunnan, is a photography art space that integrates architecture with nature. Designed in collaboration with Mu Shi Photography, the space serves as a venue for art exhibitions, cultural salons, and creative workshops. The design draws from the local landscape, with the architecture reflecting the harmony between mountains, water, and the built environment.

The architectural facade is defined by slender, expansive windows, allowing light and shadow to interact with the surrounding environment. The building’s exterior, constructed with white stone bricks, evokes a sense of timelessness and memory, blending into its natural setting. The use of natural materials such as brick, stone, and cork reinforces the connection to the landscape, while the minimalist lines and clean forms create an open and transparent atmosphere.

aurora design sculpts photography art space out of white stone bricks in china - 1 — all images by Na Xin – INSPACE, courtesy of Aurora Design

Shan Ding You Feng houses exhibition spaces and work areas

The interior spaces are designed to extend into the surrounding environment, with large floor-to-ceiling windows inviting views of the mountains and lake inside. Vertical distribution of the interior spaces caters to various functions, with the first floor offering a spacious and airy environment for exhibitions, while the second-floor houses photography and work areas. The winding central staircase, reminiscent of the Cangshan mountains, enhances the connection between the building’s interior and its natural surroundings. Natural light plays a central role in the design, with skylights and large windows allowing sunlight to filter into the space, creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow throughout the day. The use of simple materials and textures, such as plaster walls and lime-coated surfaces, complements the natural elements, creating a serene and romantic atmosphere that echoes the project’s philosophy of capturing love and nature in harmony.

The project is a reflection of Aurora Design’s minimalist approach, where the natural environment and the built structure coexist in a fluid, timeless rhythm. The result is a poetic, free-flowing space that embodies the beauty of the surrounding landscape, offering a tranquil setting for art, photography, and cultural engagement.

aurora design sculpts photography art space out of white stone bricks in china - 2 — designed in collaboration with Mu Shi Photography

aurora design sculpts photography art space out of white stone bricks in china - 3 — the space serves as a venue for art exhibitions, cultural salons, and creative workshops

aurora design sculpts photography art space out of white stone bricks in china - 4 — Shan Ding You Feng integrates architecture with nature

aurora design sculpts photography art space out of white stone bricks in china - 5 — natural materials such as brick, stone, and cork reinforce the connection to the landscape

aurora-design-photography-art-space-china-white-stone-bricks-designboom-1800-03 — vertical distribution of the interior spaces caters to various functions

aurora design sculpts photography art space out of white stone bricks in china - 6 — minimalist lines and clean forms create an open and transparent atmosphere

aurora design sculpts photography art space out of white stone bricks in china - 7 — the interior is designed to extend into the surrounding environment

aurora-design-photography-art-space-china-white-stone-bricks-designboom-1800-01 — the first floor offers a spacious and airy environment for exhibitions

aurora design sculpts photography art space out of white stone bricks in china - 8 — large floor-to-ceiling windows invite views of the mountains and lake inside

aurora design sculpts photography art space out of white stone bricks in china - 9 — reminiscent of the Cangshan mountains, the winding central staircase, enhances the connection with nature

aurora-design-photography-art-space-china-white-stone-bricks-designboom-1800-02 — natural light plays a central role in the design

the second-floor houses photography and work areas skylights and large windows allow sunlight to filter into the space creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow throughout the day simple materials and textures complement the natural elements creating a serene and romantic atmosphere the materials echo the project’s philosophy of capturing love and nature in harmony the project is a reflection of Aurora Design natural environment and the built structure coexist in a fluid, timeless rhythm the result is a poetic, free-flowing space offering a tranquil setting for art, photography, and cultural engagement

project info:

name: Shan Ding You Feng

architect: Aurora Design

chief designer: Yang Xuewan | @yxwan

construction: Rebuilding Space Lab

lighting design: Uniimport

area: 800 sqm

location: Dali City, Yunnan Province, China

photography: INSPACE – Na Xin | @INSPACE_LiuXinghao

video: WM STUDIO

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