forest of steel pillars creates swinging installation enveloped in cloud-like mist in china

OAS/S-ELY Installation Anchors Coastal Landscape in Huanglong

OAS/S-ELY is an architectural art installation by Zhide Architectural Design located on Huanglong Island in Shengsi County, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, China. Positioned within a coastal landscape shaped by sea winds and rocky reefs, the public art project functions as an art gateway that mediates between past, present, and future narratives through form, material, and environmental interaction.

The installation is developed as part of the ‘Island Co-construction Project,’ a long-term rural sustainability initiative initiated by Ideal in the Wild. Conceived as a 20-year research and development framework, the project uses Huanglong Island as a testing ground for sustainable rural practices. It combines physical interventions with community-based participation, supported by an online co-creation network that includes more than 3,000 participants worldwide engaged in discussions and proposals related to rural development.

all images by Noah Swh

Zhide utilizes Steel and Water Vapor to Shape Spatial Perception

OAS/S-ELY is primarily constructed from steel components and is designed as a spatial marker within the island’s landscape. For Zhide Architectural Design Studio, the form references movement and transition, allowing multiple readings without relying on literal representation. A controlled misting system is integrated into the structure, releasing water vapor to simulate cloud-like conditions. This system alters visibility and spatial perception over time, creating an environment that shifts in response to atmospheric conditions and user presence.

Through its material assembly, environmental responsiveness, and placement within a broader sustainability framework, OAS/S-ELY operates as both an architectural object and a platform for interaction. The project explores how built form can engage ecological processes and collective participation while contributing to ongoing discussions around rural regeneration and future-oriented design practices.

OAS/S-ELY is an architectural art installation by Zhide Architectural Design on Huanglong Island, China

the installation is set within a coastal landscape shaped by sea winds and rocky reefs

OAS/S-ELY functions as an art gateway within the island’s natural terrain

the public artwork’s placement responds directly to the island’s coastal conditions

the installation is primarily constructed from steel components

the form acts as a spatial marker within the island landscape

the structure references movement and transition rather than fixed symbolism

as one sits on the swing and gently sways, the mist above is triggered, reshaping the movement

the hidden mist system atop OAS/S-ELY transforms the installation into a continuously evolving environment

project info:

name: OAS/S-ELY

architects: Zhide Architectural Design Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd.

design team: Zhengdong Li, Rubing Bai, Xu Wen

location: Shengsi County, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, China

area: 18.5 sqm

photographer: Noah Swh

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: christina vergopoulou | designboom