Imitation stone conceals glass viewpoint in Chinese valley by DoDesign

Chinese studio DoDesign has perched the Drifting Stones pavilion on a rocky site in Chongqing, concealing a panoramic viewing area beneath a stepped roof of imitation stone.

DoDesign's design for the glazed pavilion draws on its discovery of a large flat-topped boulder on the valley site in Nanchuan District, which is surrounded by trees, mountains and a small stream.

The studio looked to create a space that would immerse visitors within this dramatic landscape, sandwiching a fully-glazed viewpoint between the boulder and a stepped stack of steel-framed, cement-coated slabs above.

"The design was not pre-planned but emerged from a spontaneous connection with a specific site feature," DoDesign partner Zhengmeng Dong told Dezeen.

"This intuitive, responsive process set the tone for the entire project," he explained. "The design seeks to evoke extraordinary nature through immersive spatial experiences that inspire visitors to observe and connect with their environment on a deeper level."

To create the stone-like roof elements, steel frames were covered with poured cement mixed with local stone powder, which was then hand-chiselled by local artisans to mimic the textures of the surrounding rocky valley.

Beneath this roof, Drifting Stones' glass-walled rest area has been designed as a contemporary contrast to the surroundings, with mirrored surfaces, leather seating areas and a table and bench in black wood.

"The reception space, encased in glass and surrounded by mirrored surfaces, creates the illusion of the rock hovering weightlessly, merging the architectural and the natural into one poetic gesture," Dong said.

"Material choices were guided by a desire to harmonise with the natural environment while introducing subtle contrasts," he continued.

"Modern materials like mirror, glass, and steel were introduced for lightness, reflectivity, and a sense of the surreal."

A stepped stone path named The Stacks leads slightly further up the hill to a small bathroom structure called The Hut, which is wrapped by mirrored walls and topped by a similar mock-stone roof punctured by a circular skylight.

Alongside, an external washbasin stands atop a mirrored plinth beneath a drip-like metal tap that extends down from an opening in the canopy above.

"The wash basin sits beneath the suspended stone in a semi-outdoor space," explained Dong. "A skylight channels daylight onto the platform below, echoing the idea that dripping water wears away stone."

Other viewpoints in China recently featured on Dezeen include two wave-topped glass pavilions overlooking a "mysterious landscape" in Zhejiang province, designed by Shanghai studio Mur Mur Lab.

The photography is by Arch-Exist.

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