west-line studio has completed a vertiginous concrete memorial at the huanpi dong combat site located in tianti town, 12km from chishui city, china. a well renowned ‘red tourism’ spot in southwest china, the memorial is located at the top of the mountain and is reachable only by a steep mountain path through the surrounding bamboo forest.

west-line studio completes a towering concrete memorial in china
the memorial is located at the huanpi dong combat site located in tianti town

 

 

defined by a towering central column, the memorial was created through a succession of three different ‘enclosed’ spaces. a long, narrow ramp characterized by a U-shaped section cuts through the central area. the circular, half-closed space around the spire is built on a concave, lower-floor level. the monument is accessed via the ramp which cuts through the central section, leading visitors to the folded concrete tower. the geometric silhouette strikes a sharp figure against the surrounding countryside, and may be entered by visitors, giving the interior impression of a sheltered well of light.

west-line studio completes a towering concrete memorial in china
created through a succession of three different ‘enclosed’ spaces, the structure is defined by a central tower

 

 

due to the project’s location in a remote mountainous area, its minimal budget of 400.000¥ (50.000€) and local workers’ lack of experience, west-line studio opted for self-compacting concrete, which would lower manufacturing costs. it also helped to reduce the taxing journey to the mountain’s summit, and would hold up in the high temperature and high humidity conditions of the site. as such, all the walls and the geometrical elements are made of cast-in-place concrete. during construction, damages to the structure such as pulling marks and scars (a result of the harsh conditions and relative inexperience of the local workforce) were incorporated into the design. 

west-line studio completes a towering concrete memorial in china
damages to the structure such as pulling marks and scars were incorporated into the design

 

 

treated as deliberate architectural quirks, these defects helped fortify the raw and lonely atmosphere of the memorial. the paving around the tower is made from a mixture of concrete elements, including chishui local grit-stone and red iron powder.

 

every year, during ‘tomb sweeping day’, members of the chishui municipal committee meet at the huangpi dong memorial to honor the qingming ceremony. walking around the monument is a way to show their respect, commemorating the lives of the soldiers who died during the revolution.

west-line studio completes a towering concrete memorial in china
the paving around the tower is made from chishui local grit-stone and red iron powder

west-line studio completes a towering concrete memorial in china
the circular area around the tower

west-line studio completes a towering concrete memorial in china
a ramp leads into the central compound

west-line studio completes a towering concrete memorial in china
masterplan of the site

west-line studio completes a towering concrete memorial in china
south elevation

west-line studio completes a towering concrete memorial in china
west elevation

west-line studio completes a towering concrete memorial in china
section of the memorial

 

 

project info:

 

location: huangpi dong, chishui city, guizhou province, china
completion: september 2010
landscape area: 2900 mq
design: haobo wei, jingsong xie, minghua ou
photos: haobo wei, martina muratori
graphic: martina muratori

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: peter corboy | designboom