west-line studio completes a towering concrete memorial in china

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.

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.

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. 

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.

the paving around the tower is made from chishui local grit-stone and red iron powder

the circular area around the tower

a ramp leads into the central compound

masterplan of the site

south elevation

west elevation

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

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