Aptdotapt places black Drop-Stop pavilion on Chinese mountain

Rainfall is collected in this black-timber pavilion, created by architecture studio Aptdotapt as a rest stop for hikers on a mountain in China.

Named Drop-Stop, the pavilion on Yandang Mountain in Wenzhou pays homage to the connection between man and nature.

Aptdotapt used water as the main theme for the pavilion, celebrating its mountainous site that is known for its waterfalls.

The structure has a triangular form built from charred timber while internally it is layered with transparent glass tiles that nod to roof eaves seen in traditional Chinese architecture.

A circular stainless-steel mirror tops the pavilion. Natural light comes in from the gaps between the mirror and the structure, casting patterns of light and shadow on the glass tiles.

On rainy days, rainwater is collected in mirrored stainless-steel pools on either side of the pavilion, encouraging visitors to interact with the flow and sound of the rain.

The pools are positioned at different heights to align with the eye levels of people sitting and standing while framing views of the surrounding mountain.

Reflections of Drop-Stop's visitors and the landscape are also visible in the pools, as well as in the shimmering glass tiles and rooftop mirror, aiming to create a dialogue between man and nature.

"Amid the grandeur of the mountain ranges, we sought to create pauses, like commas and semicolons in a piece of writing, to punctuate and enrich the experience," explained the studio.

"Water becomes a bridge connecting the self and the surrounding environment. Reflections of lush mountains, waterfalls, and mist in the pools juxtapose reality and illusion, creating a moment of suspended time," it added.

Drop-Stop's floor is lifted above the ground and lined with rectangular grates arranged in layered patterns.

An opening at one corner of the triangle forms an entrance into the pavilion. Another small-scale entrance, through which children can crawl, is cut into the facade.

Aptdotapt is a cross-disciplinary studio with offices in Shanghai, New York and Bassel.

Elsewhere in China, Temp also recently designed a triangular pavilion with charred wood in Shanghai and MAD has completed a round pavilion topped with a "flying saucer-shaped" roof in Foshan.

The photography is by Aptdotapt.

Project credits:

Architect: Aptdotapt
Project team: Jinrui Zhang, Leanne Letong Meng, Zheye Cai, Chenyu Zhang
Construction: Shanghai Yangguan Decoration Ltd.

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